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***
On December 8, 2003, the New York Knicks, continuing their road trip, rested in Los Angeles.
Clay Lee was invited by Magic Johnson to attend his family dinner.
Although Magic Johnson didn't earn much salary throughout his career and spent a large sum of money due to illness, he lived more comfortably after retirement.
Unlike ordinary Black basketball stars, Magic Johnson was also a good financial manager, and real estate earned him a large sum of money.
The property in Beverly Hills was where his family lived.
His good son, EJ Johnson, was born there, and the family spent most of their time there.
Compared to Lee's Peninsula Manor, this place seemed much smaller, but Magic Johnson's family was large, and the lively atmosphere was indeed better than Lee and a few girls living in a big house.
In the afternoon, Lee played a few rounds of golf with Magic Johnson and then played a few games of tennis with the children.
EJ Johnson inherited his father's excellent genes.
At almost 12 years old, he was already much taller than his peers.
During dinner, Magic Johnson didn't mind his son casting admiring glances at Lee, but instead chatted while eating:
"Our lives are not just about basketball. I said my ideal when I was still playing: I hoped to earn $100 million by the time I retired."
"Clay, you've done very well. Basketball player is just one of our identities. Only after retirement can we decide our lives."
"Bradley chose politics, and Phil always likes to support him. That's a choice!"
"Squandering wealth will quickly lead to bankruptcy. If possible, I also hope my children can attend prestigious schools. I've taught them this since they were young."
"EJ likes you very much. Children really need role models like you!"
The chubby EJ Johnson was still a bit shy in front of his older siblings, and hearing his father's words, he happily said:
"Yes, I plan to go to New York for college in the future!"
Lee, who was struggling with his steak, noticed the child's eager gaze, and the strange feeling in his heart lingered.
How could such a good, chubby boy become gay in the future?
"New York is indeed good, and the public safety has improved in recent years, but the weather is colder than in Los Angeles."
Magic Johnson's wife, Cookie, seemed to have noticed her son's uniqueness and supported his decision to leave home early.
Although Lee liked young girls and preferred 18-year-olds, his overall reputation was good.
Magic Johnson's family all hoped to get acquainted in advance so that EJ could be taken care of when he grew up and went to study in New York.
After dinner, Lee also toured Magic Johnson's collection.
As a sports fan, he had not only his personal trophies but also many signed items from famous athletes in other sports leagues.
The entire room was meticulously maintained, and compared to Lee's "achievement room" in Manhattan, Magic Johnson seemed to spend a lot of time in this room, knowing every item like the back of his hand.
Finally, the two sat on the sofa drinking red wine, and Magic Johnson gossiped again:
"Michael seems to be planning to form a team. If he only intends to make money, it's a good idea, but if he wants to gain a sense of accomplishment through the team, then forming a new team is terrible!"
"Nike should have converted his shares into dividends, Lee, you should be aware of this."
Lee nodded.
As a large listed company, Nike's board of directors rarely interfered with the company's operations.
Like other companies, the CEO and management were the actual operators of the company.
Michael Jordan, as an individual shareholder, always wanted to squeeze into the board of directors to exercise some rights, but his success in basketball did not mean he was a genius in business.
However, Michael Jordan's influence was huge, and he was Nike's cash cow.
There were already people internally who were dissatisfied with his strong performance as an individual shareholder.
"This is definitely a win-win result, but Michael Jordan might not think so. I'm not interested in becoming an individual shareholder, and this kind of thing won't bother me."
About to sign a lifetime contract, Lee knew what Magic Johnson meant.
This was a kind reminder that Nike would no longer cut shares.
"Win-win is the best result. We earn money and enjoy dividends. I prefer value investing, which is how I've made money in recent years."
"In the business world, having more friends is always a good thing. Everyone welcomes me because they know I'm here to help."
"Don't be like Michael Jordan. No one likes to work with someone as strong as him."
Magic Johnson laughed after saying these words, apparently in a good mood after seeing Michael Jordan lose his individual shareholder status.
Lee knew that the person in front of him still held shares in the Lakers.
Compared to Michael Jordan's undignified departure from the Washington Wizards, Magic Johnson was indeed superior in some aspects.
On the morning of the 9th, the Los Angeles Times reported on Lee's itinerary after arriving on the road, and also reported the news of Magic Johnson's family hosting Clay Lee.
After reading the morning newspaper, Kobe was unhappy again.
How could a Lakers legend talk and laugh with a "dead enemy"?
No one cared about Kobe being in an "unhappy" state.
In the Lakers locker room, Shaquille O'Neal and the other two veterans were the mainstays, and the role players all hung out with the big names.
Phil Jackson did not intervene in this matter.
Kobe, as the "fourth" in the locker room, had completely lost his say.
Karl Malone would still occasionally care about his younger brother, but Gary Payton was too lazy to bother with Kobe, definitely with "good" intentions.
During the morning video session, Phil Jackson again entrusted him with an important task:
"Control the pace, Gary! We must quickly get into game mode and respond promptly."
"After the pick-and-roll, pass the ball to Karl Malone immediately!"
Phil Jackson clearly understood that instead of making the two veterans integrate into the previous offensive system, it was better to let them do what they were best at first.
Learning from the previous game, Phil Jackson hoped that Karl Malone could leverage some matchup advantages to help the Lakers get going early.
Gary Payton nodded seriously and quickly discussed the precautions for tonight's game with the assistant coach.
When the video session ended, Shaquille O'Neal, who had been silent, said sarcastically again:
"Tonight's game, I hope everyone can play for each other. I made a sacrifice, not for certain people to pad their stats."
After O'Neal finished speaking, everyone in the atmosphere group looked at Kobe.
Noticing Kobe's sullen face and silence, everyone sighed in their hearts.
Not long ago, Kobe was connected on an ESPN program and, when asked about "Shaq did it too," Kobe voluntarily backed down on the program, admitting his mistake.
However, in daily training, Kobe did not apologize to O'Neal face-to-face, so the locker room atmosphere remained the same.
Tuesday's game was still broadcast by TNT.
As the focus of the week, it naturally received extensive pre-game hype.
During the regular season, the two teams could only play each other twice, and Lakers fans all hoped to witness a victory at home.
At Staples Center, after the game started at 8 PM, Lakers fans cheered loudly for the home team, exceptionally invested.
However, several consecutive missed shots at the beginning of the game made Lakers fans' hearts grow cold.
In this possession, Karl Malone had been hovering near the free-throw line.
The continuous high pick-and-rolls were all squeezed through by Lee, and Payton, wearing the Lakers' home white and yellow jersey, was unable to pass the ball to Karl Malone.
With more than half of the offensive time consumed, the cheering disappeared, and Payton, after reaching the right block, helplessly passed the ball to Devin George, who was receiving at the top of the arc.
The latter caught the ball, and Grant Hill still sagged inside the three-point line, strictly guarding against breakthroughs, occasionally raising his hand to interfere with passing lanes.
Kobe at this time tried to post up on the left block, but under Ron Artest's entanglement, he failed to establish position.
Seeing the offense stall, Kobe quickly ran to the left wing.
Devin George sent a cross-court pass, and Ron Artest almost stole it, then immediately retreated back in front of Kobe.
Shaquille O'Neal quickly moved from the lower right of the basket to the left low post, attempting to receive the ball, but Pau Gasol suddenly fronted him, not giving Kobe an easy passing opportunity.
Unable to make the pass, Kobe continuously jab-stepped with his right foot on the left wing.
Ron Artest remained unmoved, wasting more than 3 seconds.
Kobe finally took a contested pull-up jumper and missed.
"Boo!"
The basketball hit the back rim and bounced off the top of the backboard out of bounds.
Boos began to erupt in the Staples Center.
A superb Defense made Coach Mike D'Antoni clap repeatedly on the sidelines.
From the commentary booth, Kevin Harlan, seeing such a scene, couldn't help but comment again:
"The Lakers' offensive initiation seems to have problems. Karl Malone's screens are always squeezed through by Clay Lee."
Doug Collins did not hold back his words, but immediately sped up his commentary:
"Yes, the reason is Gary Payton's decreased explosiveness. He cannot shake off Clay Lee immediately."
"His passing lanes are also easily anticipated by Clay Lee. The pick-and-roll on one side at the start of the game is completely ineffective."
"Defense!"
Two consecutive stagnant offensive possessions left Lakers fans deflated, and the defensive shouts diminished by more than half.
Shaquille O'Neal and Karl Malone both got a headache seeing the Knicks' big men get into position.
Two elbow areas, one left and one right, starting with pick-and-rolls, precisely targeting their slow lateral movement.
Phil Jackson shouted reminders from the sidelines, and Devin George, who was guarding Ron Artest in the right corner, quickly adjusted his defensive position.
Payton noticed Pau Gasol moving up and immediately stuck to Lee, ready to squeeze through the screen at the first opportunity.
However, when Kurt Thomas also came to the top of the arc and stood still, Payton, moving horizontally, crashed into the screener, completely losing his defensive position.
Karl Malone actively performed a big hedge, and Clay Lee, moving horizontally, pulled the ball back slightly with his right hand while in motion, then quickly dribbled forward.
Lee exerted force with his feet, lowered his center of gravity, and without waiting for Karl Malone to retreat for help Defense, he re-scooped the ball with his right hand and drove straight to the basket through the middle.
Devin George could only retreat to the paint area at this point, and while still sliding, he saw Lee pass the ball to Ron Artest in the right corner.
Stopping his feet and readjusting his center of gravity, Devin George lunged to defend, but he was too far away and ultimately watched Ron Artest quickly jump and shoot!
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly.
14:4, the score difference became double digits, and the Staples Center suddenly quieted down.
After hitting another three-pointer, Ron Artest excitedly pounded his chest repeatedly, yelled a few times, and then moved to Kobe's side, continuing to stick to him.
Phil Jackson did not call a timeout but loudly signaled to get the ball inside quickly.
Payton received the ball on the baseline and quickly dribbled past half-court.
Once he reached the left wing, Lee shrank inside the three-point line.
It was an open shot opportunity, but with no one interfering, Payton still chose to lob the ball to O'Neal in the left low post.
While making the pass, Lee also converged, double-teaming O'Neal with Gasol.
One player held the baseline direction, and another interfered with his hands, not giving him a chance to put the ball down.
Shaquille O'Neal, who received the ball, held it up and again tossed it to the undefended Payton.
Seeing Lee slide again, Payton faked with the ball, then quickly put the ball down with his left hand and broke through with a step.
Payton made another wrong choice, and Lee quickly slid back to stick to him.
The two collided in the left restricted area, and Payton simply made a bounce pass, giving the ball back to Shaquille O'Neal.
The pass quality was not high.
Shaquille O'Neal was forced to bend down to receive the ball and, after putting the ball down with his right hand, originally wanted to lean on the Defense and jump directly in front of the basket, but Clay Lee slid and cut the ball again, disrupting his dribbling rhythm.
Although O'Neal flexibly evaded the Defense, he then turned towards the baseline and switched to his left hand to complete a floater.
But the basketball hit the rim and bounced out again.
Lee, near the paint area, seized the opportunity to grab the rebound and then charged with the ball.
"Boo!"
Boos once again echoed through the Staples Center.
Payton had retreated to the half-court line early but was still caught up by Lee.
Seeing Lee approach his side, Payton engaged in body contact while interfering with his hands.
While in motion, Lee quickly dribbled the ball behind his back with his left hand, easily evading the Defense.
As he scooped the ball with his right hand, he again lowered his shoulder and accelerated.
Kobe chased hard from behind, taking advantage of Lee's deceleration to drive straight to the basket from the right wing.
Upon entering the paint area, Kobe leaped high, attempting to block the shot, but Lee, charging with three big steps, ignored the Defense, gripped the ball with one hand in his right hand, and raised it high.
The two collided in the air.
Kobe forcefully pressed down with his left hand, but Lee leaned on the Defense, pulled the ball to his side with his right hand, then exerted force in the air and quickly twisted his body.
Kobe could only hit his shoulder as he fell.
Lee just turned his body, extended his right hand with the ball in one hand, and quickly attempted a scoop layup!
"Squeak!"
"Bang swish!"
The whistle blew, and the ball went in; after landing, Kobe gasped for breath while staring intently at Lee, who was shaking his shoulder, attempting to launch an eye attack.
Kevin Harlan had witnessed Lee score like this many times before and no longer shouted as loudly as in the past; noticing Kobe's expression, he quipped:
"His defensive aggressiveness is commendable, but Kobe clearly underestimated Lee's impact. His second personal foul, that's not good news."
"Someone from the Lakers must step up and score. Shaquille O'Neal's touch isn't good, and this score difference is really too dangerous."
"Perhaps they need a timeout!"
Doug Collins didn't want to see the game lose its suspense too early, so he started speculating during the free throw.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
Lee made the free throw, and MVP chants once again erupted in the Staples Center.
Phil Jackson finally called a timeout at this point.
The Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man frowned, seemingly very displeased with his players' performance, roaring repeatedly.
17:4, the double-digit lead made the Knicks' atmosphere group cheer excitedly.
According to the game plan, everyone would also get more playing time.
"When opportunity arises, attack decisively! Our ball movement is great. Now all you need to do is make those open shots!"
Phil Jackson looked at Payton as he said this, then turned to Kobe:
"I won't make substitutions. Play smarter, I don't want to see you get your third personal foul!"
No one on the Lakers' bench spoke.
Only Phil Jackson was writing and drawing on the whiteboard, reminding them loudly.
Kobe pursed his lips, his face growing increasingly grim, this was not the game he had envisioned.
After the timeout, Payton finally delivered a high-quality pass.
Shaquille O'Neal, shaking off Pau Gasol's fronting Defense, received the ball and emphatically dunked it with both hands under the basket!
Without time to yell and vent his frustration, Shaquille O'Neal hurried back on Defense.
Lee advanced quickly, using almost the same tactic, but this time it was Grant Hill who came to the left wing to receive the ball.
After a quick pass, Lee ran to the left corner.
Pau Gasol again came up for a pick-and-roll.
Grant Hill faked right and drove left, putting the ball down with his left hand, and broke through with a crossover step.
Kobe did not lose his defensive position.
Shaquille O'Neal retreated to near the free throw line and stopped, continuing to guard in front of Pau Gasol.
Lengthening his stride, Grant Hill noticed that Payton did not choose to help Defense.
Upon entering the paint area, he jumped off both feet, leaned on Kobe, and extended his left hand with the ball for a scoop layup!
"Bang swish!"
Not daring to make too many defensive moves, Kobe, who was in the air, could only watch the basketball hit the backboard and go in.
"Shit!"
Kobe slammed the basketball in his hand hard, watching Grant Hill and Clay Lee high-five in celebration, instantly filled with rage.
19:6, with 6 minutes and 27 seconds left in the first quarter, the Lakers fans in the Staples Center had lost their enthusiasm.
Magic Johnson, who had been chatting and laughing with Lee yesterday and came to watch the game in the front row tonight, now looked solemn, his good mood also disappearing.
In the next few minutes, Karl Malone continuously made mid-range jump shots from the right elbow area, and Grant Hill continued to score against Kobe under the basket.
Karl Malone, who had been scoring consecutively, had his ball stolen by Kurt Thomas on this possession.
The sudden turnover instantly halted the Lakers' scoring momentum.
"Boo!"
The Knicks repeatedly ran the same play, and the Lakers fans in the Staples Center completely lost their composure.
Payton couldn't stand Kobe's timid Defense.
This time, when Grant Hill broke through to the right restricted area, he retreated to the right near the baseline.
As soon as his feet moved, Grant Hill immediately made a pass.
Lee, who received the ball in the right corner, faked with the ball, and Payton, who lunged back to defend, leaped high, flying out of bounds.
"Clay Lee! Buries the three!"
Kevin Harlan called out early, and then Lee's three-pointer went in steadily.
26:10, the score difference was still widening.
"Dude, you actually chose to leave me open?"
After scoring, Lee turned and patted the glaring Payton.
This action further angered the opponent:
"Don't act like a winner in front of me!"
Payton received the ball on the baseline while incessantly nagging at Lee.
After receiving the ball, Payton still wanted to continue trash-talking and showing off, but before he even reached half-court, he was double-teamed by Clay Lee and Ron Artest.
The moment he was forced to stop dribbling, Payton still tried to quickly pass the ball to Kobe, but Lee seized the opportunity and snatched the ball right out of his arms.
"Oh!"
Seeing Payton pulled to the floor, the fans gasped, and the referee hesitated before calling a foul on Lee.
"Next time you won't be so lucky, remember to pass the ball earlier!"
Receiving the inbound pass again, Payton heard Lee's whisper and no longer made a sound.
After crossing half-court, he dutifully passed the ball.
Kobe, who hadn't gotten many opportunities, now used Karl Malone's hand-off pass to hit a long two-pointer from the right wing.
On the return possession, Lee missed a three-pointer from the left wing.
O'Neal was fouled on a fast break and missed both free throws.
Phil Jackson was so angry he returned to his seat.
Every time they wanted to catch up, their momentum would be cut off.
The Knicks again ran a simple play.
Pau Gasol received the ball in the left restricted area and didn't stop it, instead making a bounce pass, allowing Clay Lee, who was cutting without the ball, to easily receive it near the left baseline and drive straight to the basket.
O'Neal twisted and crashed into Lee, attempting to disrupt the offense with a foul.
Below the basket on the left, the two briefly collided.
The referee blew the whistle, but Lee didn't fly out of bounds.
Instead, he seized the opportunity to gather the ball and step, squeezing past O'Neal to the lower right of the basket, turning and scoring with a scoop layup!
Shaquille O'Neal failed to hit Clay Lee and instead lost his balance, instantly charging out of bounds and falling to the ground with the referee.
"OMG!"
"Shaq knocked down the referee, that was a hard fall!"
Doug Collins instinctively gasped, and some front-row fans also covered their mouths.
Knocked to the floor by the 2.16-meter big man, baseline referee Bob Delaney cried out in pain, and medical personnel rushed onto the court.
Shaquille O'Neal, being a big guy, was fine after standing up, but looking at the referee being carried out on a stretcher, Shaq was momentarily dazed.
Lee saw the old man's pained expression and couldn't help but pat O'Neal beside him:
"Next time try a different move. When you move your feet, I know what you're trying to do!"
"..."
Shaquille O'Neal didn't say anything because the other two referees were watching him.
After Lee's free throw, the cheers in Staples Center completely disappeared.
At 29-12, the point difference was heading straight for 20 points, and some old fans knew the game was already decided.
In the last few minutes, the New York Knicks began to play aggressive Defense again, and both sides started to take turns at the free-throw line.
Kobe was so irritated by Ron Artest that, despite getting free throws, he remained "unhappy."
Lee's three-point shooting with the ball was not good tonight, but Ron Artest's corner three-pointers were very impressive.
His excellent offensive performance made Ron Artest particularly excited.
While Kobe was shooting free throws, he leaned on his knee and mocked his opponent:
"Come on! Buddy, keep trying to isolate me. Without free throws, how many points have you scored?"
"..."
Kobe still said nothing, just calmly sank the free throw, but Ron Artest was relentless, continuing to provoke:
"I heard you still want to win MVP? Imitating Michael Jordan won't get you votes!"
"Shut up!"
The second free throw went in, and Kobe couldn't hold back, yelling at Ron Artest.
Derek Fisher, who had just come off the bench, quickly hugged Kobe.
The first quarter was almost over.
It would be a huge loss to commit a foul now.
After continuous free throws from both sides, the final score was fixed at 35-18.
Coach D'Antoni was very satisfied with the team's performance.
While signaling the atmosphere group, he loudly reminded them:
"Attack the basket, pay attention to offensive rebounds. The opponent will definitely increase their outside shooting!"
The Lakers' bench strength was mediocre. In the early part of the second quarter, Kobe and Shaq would definitely be staggered in their appearances, and the coaching staff had naturally prepared for this.
Lee had already put on his training uniform at this point and would only enter the game in the latter half of the second quarter.
In the first quarter, he was 4-of-6 from the field, 1-of-3 from beyond the arc, and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, tallying 13 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Clay Lee's stats also drew continuous praise from Doug Collins at the commentary table:
"Clay Lee's control over the game cannot be reflected in the stats!"
"Gary Payton's performance in the first quarter was poor, 1-of-4, scoring only 2 points. I think Head Coach Phil Jackson should give Derek Fisher more opportunities."
With the New York Knicks making extensive rotations, Kevin Harlan also followed this topic once the game began, saying:
"The Lakers usually have the 'OK' duo leading the team in the second quarter. This is a good opportunity to catch up!"
"Karl Malone is in good form tonight. Perhaps the Lakers could consider bringing in this veteran early."
Shaq, who was 1-of-4 and scored only 2 points in the first quarter, regained his touch at the start of the second quarter, repeatedly scoring strong attacks in the paint.
Amar'e Stoudemire, who was in excellent form recently, also performed bravely against Medvedenko, continuously responding in the paint.
Russell, who came off the bench for the Lakers, hit a three-pointer, and then Raja Bell responded with a shot from the right corner.
With 7 minutes and 3 seconds left in the half, Amar'e Stoudemire secured a defensive rebound and passed the ball to the smaller Knight, then suddenly showed a pained expression and sat down on the floor.
The New York Knicks intentionally caused a dead ball, and Coach D'Antoni also called a timeout.
Everyone gathered around, and Amar'e Stoudemire whispered:
"My knee seems unable to bend!"
The team doctors exchanged glances upon hearing this, then performed a quick check but found nothing.
Finally, the atmosphere group could only help Amar'e Stoudemire back to the locker room.
The unexpected injury on the New York Knicks' side did not have much impact on the game.
After the Lakers' starting lineup returned, they reverted to their egalitarian basketball.
Although Kobe constantly demanded the ball, he never got very good opportunities.
Payton's temper flared after several possessions of Lee's post-up isolation, as this deliberate act of attacking an old man completely enraged him.
After just scoring from a free throw in the last possession, Lee received the ball with his back to the basket in the left block again.
Receiving a lob pass, Lee immediately put the ball down with his right hand and drove hard twice, nearing the paint.
Holding his breath and defending tightly from behind, Payton tried to provide physical resistance.
Seeing Lee pull the ball back with his right hand and quickly shake his shoulder, he couldn't react defensively in time.
Using his right foot as an axis, Lee quickly spun towards the baseline, then, after getting past the Defense, he lowered his center of gravity, took two quick steps with his left foot, and instantly arrived at the lower-left side of the basket.
Payton had no reaction, only turning his head to watch Lee quickly scoop the ball with his left hand.
Shaq rotated back in time for a block, but he only hit Lee's arm after jumping, and the ball flew over his fingertips towards the backboard.
"Squeak!"
As the referee's whistle blew, the ball hit high off the backboard and dropped cleanly through the net.
"Boo!"
Lee's continuous isolation plays against Payton completely enraged the Lakers fans in the arena, and boos once again echoed throughout the Staples Center.
Gary Payton could only dejectedly raise his hands in resignation.
Shaq leaned on his knees under the basket, saying nothing.
"Cleaning up messes" was not something a superstar like him should be doing.
Watching his opponent enter a "silent" state during the game, Lee shook his head after making the free throw.
Compared to their last encounter, the Lakers hadn't changed much.
At 51-32, with 4 minutes and 16 seconds remaining in the half, the New York Knicks still held a significant lead.
Having not touched the ball for several possessions, Kobe immediately drove with a step-through after receiving the ball on the left wing this time.
Driving through the Defense to the left block, Kobe didn't choose to pass but instead leaned into Ron Artest and directly took a fadeaway jumper while drifting backward to the left!
"Bang!"
Shaq hadn't even had time to box out when Kurt Thomas had already returned to the basket and secured the defensive rebound.
This difficult shot made Shaq extremely angry, and he yelled at Kobe:
"You shouldn't have shot! Pass the ball! Give me the ball!"
The two exchanged words again while retreating on Defense.
Shaq, who was in excellent form, naturally had no mood to watch Kobe clank shots and waste time.
The New York Knicks' offense quickly silenced Shaq.
A simple pick-and-roll on the left wing, after Lee was heavily delayed, he immediately passed the ball to the rolling Pau Gasol.
The latter received the ball at the free-throw line, and with no Defense, Pau Gasol's mid-range jump shot swished cleanly.
Shaq made both free throws.
In a semi-transition offense, Lee chased over half-court, used Kurt Thomas's screen on the right wing, and drove straight to the basket.
Karl Malone, unable to slide his feet, could only watch as Lee, in a blink of an eye, drove to the lower-right side of the basket and easily scored with a scoop layup!
For several consecutive possessions, Lee relentlessly attacked the weakest defender, driving to the basket with his speed, but the Lakers couldn't come up with a good solution.
Head Coach Phil Jackson initially yelled out reminders, but after continuously giving up points in the latter half of the second quarter, the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man also returned to his seat and stopped directing.
Kobe was still trying hard, receiving the ball with his back to the basket in the right block, leaning into the Defense, and immediately putting the ball down with his left hand to drive baseline.
Ron Artest provided physical resistance, preventing Kobe from getting past the Defense.
Clay Lee suddenly collapsed from the top of the arc, extending his left arm to interfere with a swipe.
Kobe Bryant quickly pulled the ball back.
Ron Artest and Lee cooperated tacitly, suddenly stealing the ball from behind, knocking the basketball out of Kobe's hands.
Losing control of the ball, Kobe quickly chased it, but Lee got in front of him and gained control.
Helplessly, Payton could only quickly foul, sending Lee to the free-throw line again.
"Ah!"
After completing a beautiful defensive play, Ron Artest repeatedly yelled at Kobe.
Being provoked face-to-face, Kobe angrily stepped forward and pushed him.
Ron Artest, who was prepared, also braced his arm and forcefully pushed Kobe away.
The two shoved each other, and soon the only two remaining referees rushed onto the court to separate them.
Lakers fans also started cursing.
Being swept in the season, many seemed unable to accept such a result.
Stepping to the free-throw line, amidst the boos echoing throughout the arena, Lee missed his second free throw.
Kurt Thomas and Karl Malone, pulling and tugging, rushed together to the ball's landing spot.
Karl Malone successfully secured the rebound with his physicality, but when Kurt Thomas tried to strip the ball, he instinctively twisted his body to protect it, resulting in a painful fall.
Head Coach Phil Jackson watched the veteran clutching his knee, turned away in frustration, and then loudly signaled the team doctor to enter the court.
The Lakers fans in the arena watched Karl Malone finally limp towards the player tunnel, and for a moment, they completely lost their enthusiasm.
With successive injuries, the defensive intensity from both sides plummeted in the last few minutes of the half.
At 63-44, when the half ended, the outcome was no longer in doubt.
In the second half, Head Coach Phil Jackson made early lineup rotations, bringing in the atmosphere group with 3 minutes and 26 seconds left in the third quarter.
Such a move drew another round of loud boos from the home fans.
Tonight's tickets were a complete waste!
Back on the bench, Lee also looked at the team's staff.
The team doctor simply said:
"We can't determine what exactly happened to Amare's injury."
"After resting, his knee returned to normal. To be safe, we advised him not to return to the game."
Lee frowned inwardly.
The New York Knicks' current schedule was actually quite relaxed, and he hadn't expected the physically robust Amar'e Stoudemire to suffer an injury.
Ewing, who had deep experience with knee injuries, quietly added from the side:
"It has nothing to do with high-intensity games. Many times, illness just inexplicably finds its way to players!"
On the Lakers' bench, Payton was also sulking.
In three quarters, he was 3-of-10, scoring 10 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 turnover.
He scored in double digits and controlled turnovers well, but often passed the ball once he crossed half-court.
Only Payton knew why he was playing such a passive role.
"How's Karl's knee?"
Shaq, draped in a towel, turned and asked in a low voice.
The team doctor just shook his head, and everyone on the Lakers' bench fell silent.
A 40-year-old veteran suffering an injury cast a shadow over the Lakers, who had started the season perfectly.
Kobe sat at the very end of the bench, silently fuming to himself.
With the egalitarian basketball approach, he scored 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.
The coaching staff consistently ignored his advice, and Phil Jackson seemed to hold a personal grudge.
Kobe looked at the expressionless head coach with considerable resentment:
"Only by attacking aggressively can we win the game!"
The atmosphere on both sides was completely unguarded in the fourth quarter.
After a flurry of scoring, the game ended amidst boos from the Los Angeles Lakers fans.
115:94, the New York Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers again, completing a season sweep.
Due to injuries, the emotions of both teams' players were somewhat affected after the game, and Shaquille O'Neal headed to the player tunnel early.
At the press conference, the New York Media were also very concerned about Amar'e Stoudemire's injury.
After all, he was the foundational big man acquired in exchange for a championship guard, and his talent was evident.
Everyone expected Amar'e Stoudemire to soar after his Rookie season.
"Lee, we noticed that Amare didn't play in the second half. Is the injury more serious than we thought?"
"To be safe, we chose to rest Amare, especially since we had a significant lead over the opponent tonight."
"For the sake of his health, the team will conduct a detailed examination of Amare. There are still two games this week, so there isn't much pressure. Everyone can keep an eye on the team's announcement."
Lee only relayed the information the team doctor told him.
The TNT reporter was more interested in statistics:
"You've achieved 20+10 double-doubles in 22 consecutive games, Lee. Congratulations on setting another new record."
"Can you talk about tonight's game? We saw that the Los Angeles Lakers were always on the defensive."
In 26 minutes of play, he shot 9-of-15 from the field, 2-of-6 from three-point range, and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line, accumulating 27 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal, and no turnovers.
Lee, who achieved such an efficient double-double, didn't seem to care much about it:
"I was just resolutely executing the game plan set by the coaching staff before the game."
"Pressuring the opponent's perimeter, making it difficult for Shaquille O'Neal to receive the ball, and forcing other players to beat usāthat's the New York Knicks' game plan."
"If there's another chance to play against them this season, we will continue to implement this tactical strategy."
Lee laid out his cards, but the Los Angeles Media below were powerless to retort.
They weren't blind and could clearly see Payton's disheveled and suppressed performance.
The Los Angeles Lakers lost this game, bringing their record to 17 wins and 4 losses.
Even worse for the fans, the team announced Karl Malone's injury:
"A sprained knee, likely to miss the upcoming Christmas War against the Houston Rockets."
The New York Knicks, before their back-to-back road game against the Utah Jazz, did not announce Amar'e Stoudemire's injury.
Just as the medical team initially diagnosed, the Rookie's knee returned to normal, but the coaching staff dared not be careless and still placed Amar'e Stoudemire on the injury list.
On the 10th, upon arriving in Salt Lake City, the opponent played very aggressively, and the New York Knicks once again made extensive rotations.
Mike D'Antoni was frustrated when the diminutive Knight was injured again in the third quarter.
During a layup attempt, Knight was blocked by Kirilenko and hit his elbow upon landing, forcing him out of the game.
Seeing that the referee made no call, the New York Knicks did not re-insert their starting lineup.
Clay Lee and the atmosphere group quietly finished the game.
98:104, losing this back-to-back game, the New York Knicks' record moved to 21 wins and 2 losses, continuing to lead the entire league.
On December 13th, after returning to Manhattan, a detailed examination still yielded no definitive results for Amar'e Stoudemire's knee injury.
During the afternoon practice, seeing that the coaching staff still intended to keep him on the injury list, Amar'e Stoudemire proactively requested to play:
"Coach, I feel great. My knee is fine. I want to play!"
Mike D'Antoni was very fond of Amar'e Stoudemire.
If not for his poor Defense habits, this Rookie would likely have already pushed Kurt Thomas out of the starting position.
After consulting with the medical team and the head trainer, Mike D'Antoni still granted his "favorite player's" request.
Amar'e Stoudemire's agent, John Wolf, had been instigating from behind the scenes.
Lee knew that the other party wanted his client to secure a starting spot.
Becoming a starter, with more playing time, would increase the possibility of making the All-Star team.
Becoming an All-Star player means higher tactical standing and more endorsement deals.
Clay Lee did not interfere with this decision, as keeping Kurt Thomas as a starter had already caused considerable dissatisfaction for the Rookie and his agent.
That evening, the Denver Nuggets visited Madison Square Garden, and Carmelo Anthony returned to the place where he won the McDonald's All-Star Game MVP.
As fellow 2003 Rookies, LeBron James was already losing badly and undergoing transformation under Van Gundy, beginning to shift towards a point forward and defensive anchor.
Carmelo Anthony, however, did not have these troubles.
After several seasons of tanking, coupled with some trades, the Denver Nuggets had accumulated decent talent.
Marcus Camby and Nene Hilario, who were obsessed with statistics, formed the interior, while Andre Miller and Voshon Lenard were in the backcourt.
With a record of 14 wins and 8 losses, led by Carmelo Anthony, the Denver Nuggets were rising strongly!
Upon arriving at Madison Square Garden, Carmelo Anthony still wanted to perform for the New York fans, but after shooting 1-of-6 and scoring only 2 points in the first quarter, he was met only with ridicule.
15:32, at the end of the first quarter, Carmelo Anthony returned to the bench with a blank stare.
The Denver Nuggets committed 6 turnovers in a single quarter, and the seemingly all-around Defense of the bouncy Marcus Camby was shredded.
Andre Miller, who refused to join the New York Knicks in the offseason, was also hit hard, shooting 1-of-5 in the quarter, with 4 points, 1 rebound, and 2 turnovers.
After the second quarter began, Carmelo Anthony's form improved, but the Denver Nuggets consistently failed to organize effective offense, frequently resorting to isolation plays and being completely suppressed.
During a fast break, Lee collided with the retreating Carmelo Anthony in mid-air, then used a left-handed scoop shot to send the ball into the basket, and Madison Square Garden erupted once again.
Carmelo Anthony stumbled upon landing, and soon the shouts of the New York fans filled his ears:
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
Celebrities courtside stood up and applauded, the entire stadium roared, and Carmelo Anthony, standing next to the paint, watched Clay Lee make the free throw, a feeling of envy suddenly welling up in his heart:
"A superstar should play in an environment like this!"
This game completely turned into Ron Artest's Defense showcase, causing the opposing Rookie to miss shot after shot.
88:110, the New York Knicks decisively defeated their opponent after three quarters!
Playing 37 minutes, shooting 8-of-23 from the field, and 5-of-8 from the free-throw line, with 21 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers, the unremarkable Carmelo Anthony left the court as dejected as LeBron James.
The 2003 Rookies might have had some highlight moments, but when facing championship contenders, most were completely uncompetitive.
Amar'e Stoudemire's knee injury seemed to genuinely be fine.
After repeated examinations by the medical team, the time restrictions were gradually lifted.
Before Christmas, the New York Knicks received another favorable schedule, facing weak teams consecutively.
Amar'e Stoudemire, in exceptionally good game form, took away more of Kurt Thomas's minutes, scoring 18+10 in three consecutive games.
Although the Washington Wizards, Warriors, and Atlanta Hawks were all considered weak teams, the New York Media also became excited after he put up these numbers.
On the evening of the 19th, after the game against the Atlanta Hawks, Coach D'Antoni did not hold back his praise during an interview:
"Amare's talent is outstanding. It's unimaginable for a 6-foot-10 big man to possess such agility."
"As long as he receives a pass in the paint, he can score."
On Saturday, the 20th, at the Tarrytown Training Center, after the morning film session, Lee offered some comfort to Kurt Thomas as he was leaving:
"Kurt, don't worry about the starting position. We all know your contributions to the team."
Seeing Lee's serious expression, Kurt Thomas was reassured.
He knew his starting position wouldn't change:
"Thanks, Bro! It's just the regular season. I know my role."
Many times, even if you're in the starting lineup, your stats won't be too impressive because shot attempts are limited.
Conversely, playing off the bench and getting more garbage time can be more impactful.
Lee watched Kurt Thomas leave, feigning ease, and then thought of Amar'e Stoudemire, who was aggressively pushing for a starting spot.
He could only sigh:
"There are only so many stats to go around, and being a starter isn't necessarily a good thing."
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)