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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 December 1, 2003, the NBA announced the Players of the Month for the new season.
Clay Lee of the New York Knicks and Peja Stojakovic of the Sacramento Kings received the awards.
After the new season began, the New York Knicks achieved a 17-0 record, with their 17-game winning streak putting them far ahead, and Clay Lee once again topped the MVP rankings.
What baffled basketball critics was that Lee clearly slacked off in some games, yet the team still won by a large margin in every game!
He averaged 28.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 11.3 assists, 2.5 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 1.9 turnovers in 32.4 minutes per game.
He attempted 16.9 shots per game, with a field goal percentage of 54.9%, and attempted 6.4 three-pointers per game, with a three-point percentage of 44.3%.
He averaged 7.2 free throws per game, with a free throw percentage of 94.4%.
Even if one didn't follow the New York Knicks' games, seeing these statistics would reveal that Clay Lee was indeed slacking off significantly, as playing time and shot attempts don't lie.
After the new season began, the Kings achieved a 12-4 record, with Peja averaging 23.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.3 blocks, and 1.8 turnovers per game.
His field goal percentage was 52.3%, three-point percentage was 42.4%, and free throw percentage was 91.7%.
With an average of 37.7 minutes and 16.1 shot attempts per game, Peja's statistics were also excellent, but still slightly behind Clay Lee.
New York fans were accustomed to Lee winning awards, but the New York Knicks were playing an away game this Thanksgiving, which made many fans very unhappy.
Every year, the team would go to the Lower East Side to spread warmth, but this year, due to the schedule, only the management and staff could do it.
The games on Thanksgiving Day are rotated among various teams, and for fans watching at home, being able to see the New York Knicks play on this day made them feel the schedule was great!
On the evening of the 1st, at Madison Square Garden, after two days of rest, the New York Knicks once again handed the visiting Detroit Pistons a crushing defeat.
The Detroit Pistons, who dug themselves a hole with a 16-30 first quarter, failed to find their offensive rhythm in the subsequent quarters.
In the third quarter, they even played to a 12-24 score.
Although it lowered the New York Knicks' offensive level a bit, the Detroit Pistons' own scoring was extremely poor.
Chauncey Billups, who carried the Detroit Pistons' offense, was limited by Lee to 1-of-5 shooting, scoring only 2 points, and Hamilton was 1-of-4, also contributing 2 points.
Despite the New York Knicks' poor shooting touch, they still managed to blow out the game with more transition offense, as the Detroit Pistons committed 9 turnovers in a single quarter.
"Wow!"
At 69-102, as the game ended, cheers echoed throughout the Palace of Auburn Hills, and everyone on the Detroit Pistons' bench stared blankly at the floor, not saying a word.
At the MSG commentary booth, Marv Albert once again let loose, commenting sharply:
"Head Coach Larry Brown's tactical philosophy is outdated. True superstars cannot be contained!"
"It's impossible to defeat the New York Knicks by relying on Defense. The difference between the two teams lies in the star power."
"The Detroit Pistons' coaching staff still underestimated Clay Lee. He can take over the game when necessary, and the New York Knicks only need to play good Defense. Victory is that simple!"
Walt Frazier was also beaming at this moment, and this New York Knicks legend, inflated with pride, launched a broad attack:
"Clay Lee's level is above all players in the NBA, and perhaps some coaches haven't realized this, thinking Defense can defeat us."
"The Detroit Pistons have lost to the Nets in the Eastern Conference Semifinals for two consecutive years. They can hope for Kidd to go cold on offense, but such tactics have no effect on Lee."
"If they chose to double-team him for the entire game, there might be a slim chance of winning, especially since the young man's shooting touch wasn't good tonight."
Chauncey Billups shot 6-of-20 from the field, 1-of-6 from beyond the arc, and 4-of-7 from the free throw line, scoring a team-high 17 points.
Hamilton shot 3-of-13 from the field and 1-of-2 from the free throw line, scoring only 7 points.
Larry Brown naturally understood their statistics.
The gap in core players' abilities was larger than he had imagined.
Defense indeed played a role, as keeping the New York Knicks' score just over a hundred wasn't an easy feat.
Coach D'Antoni was on autopilot the entire night.
In such a defensive battle, he only needed to sit quietly on the bench and watch Lee direct the game.
After the game, Mike D'Antoni smiled and shook hands with Larry Brown, jokingly remarking:
"The Detroit Pistons' Defense is truly outstanding, and it has given us great inspiration. We look forward to our next encounter!"
Larry Brown was expressionless, adjusted his glasses, and only managed a forced smile after shaking hands:
"The New York Knicks were indeed the better team tonight. It seems you have a chance to break the record."
It was just a simple pleasantry, but Mike D'Antoni responded seriously:
"The team isn't interested in records. We'll give up on the upcoming consecutive road games and back-to-backs, as we're far ahead of the second-place team. We just need to secure home-court advantage!"
"."
Facing such bragging, Larry Brown took two deep breaths and then turned and left.
Mike D'Antoni didn't mind, and even had the presence of mind to greet the MSG staff.
Since taking over the New York Knicks, Mike D'Antoni was no longer the frustrated old man who had arrived in the NBA.
As the New York Knicks were about to embark on a continuous five-game road trip in the Western Conference, the most frequent question Clay Lee was asked at the press conference was about records:
"Congratulations to the New York Knicks on their 18-game winning streak, Lee. Can we break last season's winning streak record this season?"
Lee just shrugged, not making any definitive statements, and simply replied:
"Breaking a record is certainly a good thing, but I hope the team can stay healthy."
"I hope the New York Knicks can start a new dynasty again. The championship is the most important thing."
In recent ESPN programs, Lee's all-around statistics were once again being heavily praised, and a sports reporter at the scene also asked this question:
"Compared to last season, Lee, we've noticed your personal statistics are declining. Can you talk about the specific reasons?"
Lee looked strange.
He really hadn't expected someone to ask that question:
"Perhaps it's because of the opponents. You know, many times my playing time is only 31 minutes."
"Usually I play the entire first quarter and third quarter, and then it's over. It's not that my stats are declining. On the contrary, my efficiency is still increasing!"
"I just play according to plan, taking about 6 shots per quarter."
"In other words, scoring 8 points and dishing out 3 assists in a quarter is my game plan."
The New York sports media chuckled at this, as the translation of this statement was "the opponents are too weak."
Many sports reporters were speechless, some even felt Lee had a point and wanted to continue asking questions, but Lee pointed to Ron Artest beside him and said:
"Go ask Ron. He's been outstanding this season, and Richard was completely shut down tonight!"
Ron Artest showed a simple and honest smile to the media reporters.
At Madison Square Garden, referees rarely called fouls on him, which greatly increased his defensive power, allowing him to consistently perform excellently on the defensive end:
"Lee is right, no one in the NBA is our opponent right now. Most of those guys who score high to grab attention are just stat-padding!"
"Defense is the key to victory!"
Lee took every opportunity recently to praise Ron Artest, mainly to help him win the DPOY.
The competition for big men in the Eastern Conference was very low, and Pau Gasol firmly held a starting All-Star position.
With the New York Knicks' excellent record, Spanish fans also fully supported them.
As long as Grant Hill stayed healthy and occasionally attended events with his singer wife, he could naturally maintain good popularity.
At this year's Los Angeles All-Star Game, the New York Knicks had a high probability of having four players selected for the All-Star, which was also a bonus for the Eastern Conference.
Since they would be spending more than a week in hotels and on planes, the coaching staff gave them another day off.
They needed a good rest before the continuous Western Conference road games.
Last month, the three major indices rose, and Wall Street experts believed the economy was about to recover.
For the general public, whether the economy was recovering or not, they didn't know, but buying stocks seemed profitable again, and the old leeks' motivation was back!
Lee only paid attention to the Federal Reserve's actions.
Axe Capital and Citadel were currently the highest-returning hedge funds, and his wealth growth rate consistently maintained an upward trend.
On tuesday, December 2, Lee also returned to Peninsula Manor.
He planned to spend Christmas there this year and invite some friends to celebrate the holiday together.
Managing the vast manor required two butler teams working together.
Just that large expanse of dense forest was enough to cause headaches in winter.
Ivanka was still in school, Melinda and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP went to the United Kingdom together to prepare for the second acquisition negotiations, and Kim had been working in the Bronx.
The task of looking after the house fell to Krysten Ritter, the unemployed person with plenty of time.
Scarlett, after her birthday, also enthusiastically helped decorate the big house, even dragging her brother Hunter along to be a laborer last weekend.
The excessive sense of ritual made Hunter run away after two days of labor.
In the afternoon, they toured the manor, and the two girls happily introduced the ingredients and furniture they had added.
After dinner, as dusk fell, the two, spending their first night here, also experienced an environment completely different from Manhattan.
Occupying a corner of the coastline, Peninsula Manor was exceptionally quiet, with the butler team resting in a separate gatehouse.
In the huge master bedroom, a bonfire was lit in the fireplace, and after specially selecting a jazz song, Scarlett lay on the large bed, awaiting service.
As a reward for diligently looking after the house, Lee transformed into a masseur tonight, and the two were frank with each other, ready to loosen up the young woman's muscles and bones.
Light or heavy kneading came from her waist, and Scarlett hummed comfortably.
The back-lying position had always been her favorite.
Lee, straddling her, kneaded her waist while eating fruit handed to him by the little attendant by the bed:
"Two days ago, your father called me, subtly telling me he hoped you'd return to Los Angeles soon."
"Don't tell me you've argued with your mother again. I'm not good at dealing with elders."
Scarlett, whose body temperature was rising, continued to hum without speaking.
Instead, Krysten Ritter, nearby, said sourly:
"Scarlett always gets scripts, but now she looks down on those resources!"
"If I had so many scripts back then, maybe I'd be a big star now!"
The little attendant had a playful ponytail and was only wearing a transparent nightgown, showing off her long legs, as if to say her figure was actually better.
Her back and soft spots were kneaded at will, Scarlett's breathing became more rapid, her body gradually flushed, and hearing her friend's words, she retorted in a hoarse voice:
"Hollywood has so many trash movies every year. If I could participate in a work like The Lord of the Rings, I wouldn't hesitate."
"My mother just wants to make more money. I know this, this industry is like this, but I want to say no!"
On the eve of Christmas, the third installment of The Lord of the Rings was about to be released, and this movie was destined to be a big hit.
Scarlett, a newly adult young woman, was still stuck in the art film industry, and roles in commercial blockbusters simply weren't available to third-tier actors.
Krysten Ritter pouted.
Most actors didn't have a choice.
She and Katheryn were the norm for Hollywood actresses.
No acting meant no income, and no income meant an inability to maintain a luxurious lifestyle.
Ultimately, ordinary girls would choose to compromise.
A bad script was better than no work at all.
However, there was also a shortcut.
The little attendant was currently living a life of casual swiping, but her dream of the big screen was completely shattered.
Scarlett's parents had long been divorced and now had their own families.
This situation was very common in the United States.
It was considered harmonious if this family didn't fight over money.
In New York, Lee often saw gossip about Mariah Carey's family in previous years.
That was the real "vampire":
"Whatever you want. If you're not going home for Christmas, remember to say hello to your mother!"
Her body softened from the kneading, Krysten Ritter giggled and stroked her friend's glistening skin, and noticing the young woman's breathing becoming more rapid, she said mischievously:
"Scarlett, you really should record this moment. Look at you, you're truly beautiful!"
Scarlett, who had already turned over, was not in the mood to respond.
Instead, she sat up and kept kissing Lee.
The little attendant immediately put the fruit in her hand aside and maliciously came behind the young woman.
Soon, the young woman was completely lost. Lee once again demonstrated his skilled ball-handling techniques, while leaning into her ear and teasing:
"In a few more years, we'll have a team!"
The Knicks won big in November, and the Cavaliers also achieved a complete victory in the first month of the new season.
After losing to the Nuggets on the 2nd, the Cavaliers' record stood at 3 wins and 15 losses, firmly at the bottom of the NBA.
LeBron James was a bit depressed after being swept by the Nuggets led by Carmelo Anthony.
The feeling of losing so badly was not pleasant.
Jeff Van Gundy didn't care about LeBron James's mood.
Whoever interfered with his tanking plan would be benched early.
Ricky Davis, who had let himself go, was indeed a good hand at tanking.
The Bald Young Coach was very satisfied with this.
He was determined to get the first overall pick!
On the evening of the 3rd, the Cavaliers steadily lost to the Clippers again.
After the game, Jeff Van Gundy didn't forget to offer some heartwarming chicken soup to everyone during his interview with the team reporter:
"I've seen the team's progress. Often, winning or losing isn't important. We should focus more on the growth of our Rookie players!"
"On the Defense end, LeBron James still has a lot to learn. I hope he can become the future defensive core of the team's perimeter."
These words were also to save face for LeBron James.
In tonight's game, the The Chosen One shot 2-for-13, getting 4 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 5 turnovers.
In the back-to-back game, transforming into a point forward, LeBron James's performance was subpar.
After entering the NBA, LeBron James, known as the The Chosen One, had a field goal percentage of just over 40% in his first month of games, and his three-point percentage was less than 30%.
Although he did have some impressive performances in certain games, he was still a long way from stealing Clay Lee's spotlight.
Basketball commentators had no interest in discussing the team at the bottom of the NBA!
From a highly anticipated high school Rookie to becoming just another player after entering the NBA, the huge psychological gap made LeBron James somewhat uncomfortable.
What made him even more frustrated was that as the All-Star Game approached, Nike gradually forgot about him, and their focus began to shift back to Clay Lee.
After the Kobe Bryant unauthorized entry incident during the offseason and consecutive losses after entering the NBA, LeBron James's popularity completely dissipated after December.
After losing this game, LeBron James, in his interview, could only activate the "trust the process" mode, trying to appear mature and stating seriously:
"I believe in Head Coach Van Gundy's plan. Failure is only temporary. I have a long career ahead, and in my first season, my goal is to adapt to the intensity of the competition."
These words were mainly for the Cleveland fans, as other onlookers wouldn't pay attention to the last-place team.
The Cavaliers would need at least four more years of development to challenge the defending champions.
On the evening of the 3rd, the Knicks, who began their Western road trip, also got off to a good start.
106:88, the Knicks easily defeated the Seattle SuperSonics.
Lewis had a poor shooting night, going 6-for-14 and scoring only 13 points.
After the loss, the Seattle SuperSonics' record fell to 8 wins and 7 losses, dropping them out of the top 8 positions.
Ray Allen had been very low-key due to injuries.
He was an old-school player who preferred to let his on-court performance speak for itself.
However, when it came to his good friend, Ray Allen had no reservations.
The friendship forged in college was completely different from the superficial brotherhood in the NBA.
Wearing a proper brown suit, Ray Allen, when asked about the GOAT during a locker room interview, rallied for Clay Lee:
"Clay is the greatest of all time, and they have a high probability of winning the championship again this season!"
"Six championship trophies, six Finals MVP trophies. I didn't personally experience Bill Russell's era, but in my opinion, achieving such accomplishments in modern basketball is incredible."
"I know Lee, and to have such a performance, he has put in tremendous effort!"
"Those who take shortcuts will not succeed. The Lakers have a good record, but I don't think they will cause Lee any trouble."
"Gary Payton and Karl Malone don't fit this team, and Kobe's efficiency will decline in the playoffs."
"Only Shaquille O'Neal can support the Lakers' interior, but it has been proven that relying solely on one excellent big man cannot win a championship."
When asked about the MVP selection, Ray Allen again spoke bluntly:
"Perhaps many players haven't realized the gap between themselves and Lee, but in our hearts, we all know who the best player in the NBA is."
"Last season's Kobe and this season's Kevin Garnett will only say a few words in interviews. The truth is, they are just ordinary All-Star players, just like me."
. . .
Ray Allen's words carried a hint of self-deprecation, but more so, they were a taunt directed at players who only talked big.
On the evening of the 4th, the Lakers defeated the Dallas Mavericks.
After the game, sports reporters became mouthpieces again, elaborating on Ray Allen's words with added embellishment.
Gary Payton, who was matched up against Steve Nash tonight, once again displayed a valiant performance, shooting 7-for-13 for an efficient 17 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and two turnovers.
During his locker room interview, Payton shook his head repeatedly, showing a disdainful expression:
"Ray Allen? What has he achieved? What right does he have to point fingers at me?"
"Perhaps he'll shut his big mouth after I win a championship."
"We have a record of 16 wins and 3 losses. The Lakers are now first in the Western Conference. Where are the Seattle SuperSonics? Perhaps he should consider how to make it to the playoffs."
Gary Payton went all out, delivering a rhythmic, continuous output in his somewhat high-pitched voice.
Kobe Bryant also performed well tonight, shooting 9-for-23, 2-for-5 from beyond the arc, and 12-for-12 from the free throw line, scoring a game-high 32 points.
However, in the locker room, few people interviewed him.
The unauthorized entry case was not yet over, and Kobe's popularity had been greatly affected.
Good Brother Karl Malone noticed Kobe's low spirits and quietly comforted him:
"Don't pay attention to what those boring media say. For players like us, only championships and family are most important!"
"Kay can take care of Vanessa. During this time, don't let those reporters affect her."
Kobe nodded gratefully.
Good Brother's private life wasn't great either, but at this time, his teammates were isolating him, and Kobe felt that the outside world had misunderstood Karl Malone.
On December 6, the New York Knicks suffered their first loss of the season, losing to the Warriors on the road in a back-to-back game tonight, after defeating the Portland Trail Blazers last night.
In the Warriors' bench lineup, Kleskton and Calvert-Cheney suddenly exploded, combining for 33 points!
At 97:104, after losing this game, the New York Knicks' winning streak to start the new season ended at 20 games.
With a 20-1 record, the New York Knicks, despite the loss, still led the Los Angeles Lakers and ranked first in the NBA.
This extensive rotation in the game was naturally to ensure that the players would be in better physical condition for the upcoming road challenge against the Los Angeles Lakers.
For the New York Knicks' coaching staff, there were no longer any opponents in the Eastern Conference.
They were the earliest team to prepare for the Finals this season.
Only when facing potential opponents would everyone go all out.
After all, they only played against Western Conference teams twice a season, and sweeping them could establish a significant psychological advantage!
Despite losing the game, the New York Knicks' starting lineup performed well.
Clay Lee played 28 minutes, shooting 8-for-13 from the field, 3-for-6 from beyond the arc, and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, scoring a game-high 23 points.
However, tonight's game, while he dished out 11 assists, also saw him commit 3 turnovers, which was Lee's first game with 3 turnovers in a single game since the start of the new season.
Although the Warriors ended the New York Knicks' winning streak, sports media focused their attention on the upcoming games after the match.
Lee, who attended the press conference, was still dressed in a black suit and white shoes.
This new look was well-received, and many celebrities had already started to imitate it.
"Due to the back-to-back games, everyone's physical stamina was affected, and it's a pity we lost this game!"
Lee, as usual, began to make excuses for the team, but the TNT reporter didn't care about this loss.
Next tuesday, they would broadcast the New York Knicks' rematch with the Los Angeles Lakers, so he quickly raised his hand and asked:
"Lee, for the road game against the Los Angeles Lakers, will the New York Knicks make any tactical adjustments?"
"No adjustments. I'm responsible for dealing with Payton, and Grant and Ron are responsible for guarding Kobe."
"In the rotation, Amare is still unstoppable, and two days of rest are enough for us to adjust our physical condition."
"We will still win the next game."
These words left many sports reporters speechless.
No one could easily refute them, after all, Payton's performance in their last encounter was quite poor.
Seeing that everyone suddenly fell silent, Lee smiled and proactively asked:
"How's the weather in Los Angeles lately? We plan to go there early to rest!"
"..."
In the games played simultaneously on the evening of the 6th, the Detroit Pistons challenged the Houston Rockets on the road, and Yao Ming also showed his talent!
80:86, the Detroit Pistons' Defense was decent, but the Houston Rockets had the last laugh.
Yao Ming played 40 minutes, shooting 9-for-18 from the field, 4-for-6 from the free-throw line, and recorded a massive double-double of 22 points, 20 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 blocks, and 2 turnovers!
Grabbing 6 offensive rebounds, Yao Ming completely dominated the Detroit Pistons' interior!
"Ben Wallace" with a headband suddenly became "Allen Iverson" tonight, shooting 3-for-9 from the field, and recording 7 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block.
After this game, the Chinese sports media was overjoyed.
In basketball, you have to let your game do the talking!
After winning, the Houston Rockets' record reached 12-7, and Coach Mike Brown transformed into a sycophant when interviewed by China sports media after the game:
"I can't describe Yao's performance tonight. He completely dominated the paint, and all we have to do is give him the ball!"
China sports reporters really liked this guy.
The new Head Coach had clear tactics, spoke well, and looked like a famous coach in every way.
Ben Wallace was a two-time consecutive DPOY, and had also won Rebounding Champion and Blocks Champion titles, yet when he faced the sophomore Yao Ming, he was completely stifled!
In the TNT show after the game, the trio, in addition to hyping up the upcoming New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers game, discussed Yao Ming's performance even more.
20+20, such statistics were not common, and coupled with Yao Ming being a sophomore Rookie performing like this against a DPOY, he naturally deserved praise.
Kenny Smith was always generous with his praise:
"This is definitely one of the most dominant performances of the season; you know, Shaquille O'Neal had similar numbers when he faced the Detroit Pistons."
"This is only Yao's second season, and Ben Wallace simply can't guard him!"
Ernie Johnson heard his co-host's words and likewise agreed, praising:
"The Detroit Pistons' Defense this season is excellent; Steve Francis shot 4-for-13 tonight and only scored 9 points."
"Yao carried the Houston Rockets' offense; the Houston Rockets have a chance to make the playoffs this season!"
"Although Coach Mike Brown is coaching for the first time, his arrival has brought significant improvement to the Houston Rockets."
Charles Barkley hadn't spoken for a long time, but seeing his two co-hosts' relentless praise, he took over and sang a different tune:
"Yao played well, but what I want to say more is that Ben Wallace played too poorly."
"As an undersized interior player, he should front the post more often. Against bigger players, he should play smarter."
"He can watch my game footage and see how I defended those big guys!"
"Compared to the NBA of the 90s, today's star players are far too inferior, which is why the league's ratings are declining."
"Look at the performance of these stars. Many times, I don't even want to watch them play."
"Of course, Lee is an exception. His ability to lead that New York Knicks team to defeat the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz is enough to prove that even if he played in the early 90s, he would certainly succeed."
Seeing his co-host once again launch a broad attack with a "praising the past, belittling the present" viewpoint, Kenny Smith felt somewhat helpless and proactively changed the subject:
"Basketball is progressing, and the current NBA rules are different from the past. We've discussed this issue many times."
"The New York Knicks are challenging the Los Angeles Lakers on the road, and I believe Phil Jackson will make adjustments!"
Charles Barkley glanced at his co-host and continued to elaborate on the topic:
"The Los Angeles Lakers have no chance; the gap between the two teams is reflected in their core players."
"Shaq might dominate the paint, but that's far from enough. Kobe, as the team's perimeter core, has a huge gap compared to Clay."
"I'm not just referring to the physical gap, but more so the understanding of the game."
"I've evaluated Allen Iverson many times, and facts have proven my views to be correct. The same goes for Kobe Bryant, I don't want to receive any more text messages, time will tell."
The "star quality theory" was Charles Barkley's most famous viewpoint in recent years.
After joining TNT, as a 76ers legend, he heavily criticized Allen Iverson, considering him an "inefficient stat-padder" who couldn't be a team's core.
This brought considerable trouble to the entire production team but also garnered huge traffic.
And as time went on, Charles Barkley's views were confirmed one by one, which made the loudmouth "deified."
Ernie Johnson didn't want the show to be labeled as "kicking someone while they're down".
Kobe was a sensitive star, and although the sexual assault case was still ongoing, he still had high popularity:
"I think Clay Lee is right. Every era will produce different stars, and basketball is progressing. At least we've seen the New York Knicks' rich tactical play."
Seeing that his co-host still wanted to speak, Kenny Smith quickly changed the subject again:
"For the upcoming schedule, we can also look forward to another showdown between Yao Ming and Shaquille O'Neal!"
"..."
On December 8, the Orlando Magic came back to defeat the Phoenix Suns at home, with both Houston and Tracy McGrady playing 44 minutes.
After winning this game, the Orlando Magic's record also reached 6-15.
Tracy McGrady, who had a back injury, shot 5-for-17, recording a near triple-double of 16 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks.
Houston, who had a knee injury, shot 9-for-19, scoring a team-high 24 points.
After winning this game, Tracy McGrady angrily criticized Barkley in a post-game interview.
Although the other party didn't mention him in the show, combining it with his performance this season, Tracy McGrady automatically fit the description:
"Some commentators only look at statistics. They don't care about our performance on the court at all!"
"Many times, statistics simply cannot reflect a player's role, let alone their impact on the game."
"I will prove this with my actions!"
Last season, he was the second-best player after Clay Lee, but this season, he rapidly declined, and no one was reporting on Tracy McGrady anymore.
His popularity dropped, his mentality became unbalanced, and with continuous losses, Tracy McGrady self-destructed.
Although Houston had a laid-back attitude, he was very dedicated.
Seeing his co-host lose composure at the press conference and being challenged by reporters, he couldn't help but frown and sigh inwardly:
"What's there to fight over for being the second-best?"
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)