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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
***
By the end of February 2004, with the Pistons' trade concluded and other teams only making minor adjustments without major transactions, basketball critics once again turned their attention to the Western Conference.
Entering the second half of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers also began to exert their strength, achieving a 3-0 record in the first week after the All-Star Weekend.
Although they narrowly defeated the Portland Trail Blazers and the Warriors in previous back-to-back games, upon returning home to face the 76ers, the Los Angeles Lakers once again demonstrated their dominance.
88:116. Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant both maintained their excellent form, checking out after three quarters and easily defeating their opponents!
In 30 minutes of play, Shaquille O'Neal made 12 of 18 shots, scoring a game-high 29 points, while Kobe Bryant made 10 of 18 shots, also tallying 28 points.
Allen Iverson still gave his all, but facing the Los Angeles Lakers' backcourt duo, he played 38 minutes, made 3 of 18 shots, 7 of 10 free throws, and recorded 13 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, and 6 turnovers.
In the previous matchup between the two teams, the Los Angeles Lakers were missing Kobe Bryant, and Gary Payton also left early due to injury.
Allen Iverson delivered a strong performance then, making 15 of 29 shots and scoring 38 points!
With a complete backcourt lineup, Gary Payton and Kobe Bryant thoroughly outplayed Allen Iverson.
Before winning the championship, Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson admired each other, encouraged each other, and often praised each other in public.
However, after winning the championship and then being eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals last season, Kobe Bryant no longer liked critics comparing him to Allen Iverson.
Whenever he was in good form, Kobe Bryant would showcase his abilities as a champion guard, sending a signal to the outside world:
"Don't compare me to Allen Iverson!"
On February 22nd, the NBA announced the Players of the Week after the All-Star Weekend:
Dwyane Wade of the Heat and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers successfully won the awards.
The Heat achieved a 3-0 record. Dwyane Wade averaged 35.3 minutes per game, scoring 27.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.3 steals, 1.0 block, and 2.7 turnovers.
He averaged 16.3 field goal attempts per game, with a shooting percentage of 59.2%.
He averaged 2.0 three-point attempts per game, with a three-point percentage of 50.0%.
He averaged 8.0 free throw attempts per game, with a free throw percentage of 83.3%.
Aside from his modest three-point production, Dwyane Wade played with the same efficiency as Clay Lee.
In comparison, Kobe Bryant performed even better, averaging 38.7 minutes per game, scoring 31.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 2.3 steals, 1.0 block, and 3.7 turnovers.
He averaged 19.0 field goal attempts per game, with a shooting percentage of 59.6%, and averaged 10.7 free throw attempts per game, with a free throw percentage of 78.1%.
The Los Angeles Lakers achieved a 3-0 record, and Kobe Bryant felt more confident after winning the Player of the Week award.
Coupled with the support from his Good Brother Karl Malone on the team, Kobe Bryant confidently stated in an interview:
"You can judge me however you want, but basketball doesn't lie!"
"I give my all in every game. I spend all my time in the gym, and I'll do anything for victory."
ESPN always gossiped about the Los Angeles Lakers' internal affairs, and Kobe was tired of the rumors.
He knew the Head Coach disliked him, but what did it matter?
Kobe Bryant firmly believed that as long as he performed well, he would naturally earn trust and respect.
In the last week of February, Kobe Bryant continued his hot streak.
Aside from a back-to-back loss to the Sacramento Kings, the Los Angeles Lakers wasted no opportunities, and their record began to climb.
On the 29th, with a score of 100:83, the Los Angeles Lakers easily defeated the Nets in three quarters, ending February with a victory.
With a record of 38 wins and 20 losses, a winning streak allowed the Los Angeles Lakers to tie the San Antonio Spurs' record and, by virtue of their head-to-head record, rank third in the Western Conference!
The Los Angeles Lakers would continue their road trip.
Although Phil Jackson disliked Kobe Bryant, the team was in excellent form, and the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man did not hesitate to praise them:
"This is the Los Angeles Lakers I've been waiting for. We delivered a perfect performance!"
"Regular season records often don't tell the whole story. I only focus on the team's chemistry, and clearly, the Los Angeles Lakers are on the right track."
With the team performing well, the Los Angeles Times also began to predict:
"The Los Angeles Lakers dynasty has officially begun!"
On March 1st, the New York Knicks concluded their late February Western road trip and returned to Manhattan.
The NBA also announced the Players of the Month for February on this day:
Clay Lee of the Eastern Conference and Kevin Garnett of the Western Conference once again won the awards.
The New York Knicks achieved a 10-2 record in February:
They lost to the Dallas Mavericks early in the month, then easily defeated the Houston Rockets, Clippers, and Denver Nuggets late in the month, finally losing to the Sacramento Kings.
Due to the frequent injuries of the small guard Knight, Lee's stats increased a little:
He averaged 34.0 minutes per game, scoring 29.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 11.1 assists, 3.0 steals, 0.3 blocks, and 2.1 turnovers.
He averaged 17.8 field goal attempts per game, with a shooting percentage of 52.3%, and averaged 7.7 three-point attempts per game, with a three-point percentage of 43.8%;
He averaged 7.9 free throw attempts per game, with a free throw percentage of 92.6%.
His double-double stats seemed ordinary, but as a point guard, Clay Lee's shooting percentage was even higher than Kevin Garnett's.
The Timberwolves performed well in February, achieving an 11-4 record, and continued to maintain their position as the Western Conference's top team.
This time, Kevin Garnett didn't loudly boast about winning the award.
His stats were very good with 25.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.6 steals, 2.2 blocks, and 2.7 turnovers per game, but he was still overshadowed by Clay Lee.
On the evening of March 3rd, at Madison Square Garden, before the game began, in front of the New York fans, Lee held the Player of the Month trophy and waved to the crowd.
On the 76ers' bench, Rookie player Samuel Dalembert, feeling the atmosphere, said with some envy:
"The atmosphere here is great, and the fans all support Lee!"
Glenn Robinson subtly pursed his lips.
He and Lee didn't get along because he disliked Ray Allen.
After leaving the Milwaukee Bucks, Glenn Robinson began to decline, and his physical condition had not improved after joining the 76ers.
Erik Snow glanced at the Rookie, knowing that such a remark would surely displease Allen Iverson.
Philadelphia fans no longer "trusted the process."
This season, Allen Iverson's reputation, plagued by injuries, had been worsening, not primarily because he often took his Good Brother to nightclubs, but mainly due to losses.
Although Allen Iverson had a good reputation among players, admirable spirit, and inspired a generation of Rookies as a tragic hero.
However, critics only focused on wins, losses, and Excel spreadsheets.
Allen Iverson's attendance rate decreased this season, his field goal percentage was less than 40%, and his three-point percentage was less than 30%.
With such a performance, he was considered completely past his prime by critics, and even Milwaukee sports media would step in to criticize him:
"When coaches select players, they always consider other factors. Michael Redd is a better player than Allen Iverson this season!"
Among the All-Star players, Allen Iverson's record was only slightly better than Tracy McGrady's, but his stats were at the bottom.
After the All-Star Weekend, Allen Iverson was mocked for over half a month, especially after being thoroughly defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers' backcourt, which triggered a new round of criticism.
Charles Barkley continuously "achieved god-like status."
He had always believed that Allen Iverson would gradually decline, and when his predictions all came true, Barkley became the most knowledgeable basketball critic.
Before the game, the 76ers' Rookies were still secretly marveling at Lee's performance.
The players knew better than anyone that Lee had truly been slacking off this season, and they could feel his aggression decreasing during games.
However, despite more than half of the season having passed, Lee still led the scoring, assists, and steals charts.
Such a performance truly exceeded the expectations of many players.
"Even scoring can't beat Clay Lee." This is the current situation in the NBA.
Every time Allen Iverson came to New York, he wore a long face and remained silent.
In the past, some fans would shout "overrated," but as he gradually declined, many people had begun to ignore him entirely.
No one mocked Allen Iverson anymore, nor did anyone discuss the 76ers.
Although he was an All-Star, to New York fans, Allen Iverson was just a stat booster for their team.
For tonight's game, the coaching staff had actually prepared a very detailed game plan.
It wasn't because the 76ers were particularly strong, but because after the Los Angeles Lakers' big win, the New York Knicks also needed to demonstrate their dominance.
After the first quarter began, Clay Lee continuously sought out Allen Iverson on both offense and Defense, and the frontcourt players fully engaged in physical contests during switches.
As soon as Allen Iverson drove into the paint, he would immediately be double-teamed.
Even if defensive positioning was lost, the last line of Defense, Pau Gasol and Kurt Thomas, would aggressively foul to limit the opponent.
During the latter half of the first quarter, Chris Ford, the Head Coach of the 76ers, who was idling on the sidelines, saw Lee pressing Iverson from the backcourt and loudly reminded his players:
"Set a screen! Don't wait to receive the ball!"
With the Head Coach's loud reminder, Dalembert quickly moved to the right wing.
However, Allen Iverson, who was dribbling with his right hand past half-court, waved his left hand, indicating he didn't need a screen.
After everyone spread out again, Allen Iverson took a hop step dribble, then quickly did a cross-over, switching to his left hand and immediately dropping his shoulder to accelerate.
Lee slid defensively while reaching down to disrupt.
The two collided. Allen Iverson dribbled past the three-point line, then immediately stopped short and dribbled between his legs.
Lee followed, stopping his feet and reaching down with his left hand to disrupt again.
After switching to his right hand, he was forced to pull the ball back.
Iverson swayed his shoulder back, then took a large step forward with his left foot, sinking his shoulder again to accelerate his breakthrough.
Lee first slid to give body contact, then actively gave the opponent some space to shoot.
The two tangled as they rushed towards the lower right of the basket.
Near the right baseline, Allen Iverson took three big steps and tried to lean on the Defense for a running floater.
However, Lee, who had re-adjusted his footwork, was already prepared and actively exerted force.
Allen Iverson, leaning into Clay Lee, was knocked backward, but ultimately relied on his core strength to execute a fadeaway shot near the right baseline.
Lee, leaping high, forced Iverson to shoot by feel.
After releasing the ball, he couldn't help but loudly remind his teammates:
"Rebound!"
Lee's left fingertips just touched the bottom of the basketball, which prevented Allen Iverson's floater from hitting the rim, instead falling directly into Dalembert's hands, becoming an assist.
Instinctively receiving the basketball, Dalembert immediately tried a bank shot from the lower right of the basket, but was met by Pau Gasol, who delivered a solid block.
"Wow!"
The New York fans in the arena cheered.
After Pau Gasol gained control of the ball, he immediately charged forward, and the Knicks players followed him to the opponent's half.
Allen Iverson, lying on the floor, gritted his teeth and got up.
Seeing Lee receive the ball near the mid-court line, he immediately accelerated his pursuit.
The 76ers' transition Defense was very fast, as this situation had occurred more than once.
Seeing their Good Brother chase Lee, Erik Snow did not step forward to double-team.
Watching Lee slow down and wait for Allen Iverson to stick close, Kurt Thomas and Pau Gasol stopped near the left and right baselines.
Ron Artest had already run to the right corner, leaning on his knee, ready to crash the boards, and Grant Hill was the same, stopping on the right wing.
The few of them simply spread out to create space.
Taking advantage of the opponent's pursuit, Lee first quickly dribbled behind his back, switched to his left hand, and slightly lowered his center of gravity.
As Allen Iverson moved in front of him, Lee smoothly changed direction between his legs, holding the ball with his right hand.
When the opponent tried to interfere, he immediately pulled the ball back, simultaneously swaying his shoulder.
Subconsciously moving to the left, Allen Iverson, seeing Clay Lee step and twist his body, annoyedly slid quickly to the left-rear, while desperately providing body contact to try and disrupt the dribbling rhythm.
Lee, sinking his shoulder and accelerating, took large strides, gaining half a step and plowing through the Defense.
In the paint directly in front of the basket, Lee first took a jump step to bump Allen Iverson aside.
Dalembert moved and jumped to block, while Lee drifted to the right-rear, evading the Defense.
Twisting his body in the air, as his opponent came down, Lee then smoothly completed a fadeaway jump shot in the air!
The basketball, with its heightened arc, flew over his head.
Dalembert, after landing, could only turn his head to look at the rim.
"Swish!" The two-pointer went through the net without touching the rim.
16:28, with 3 minutes and 4 seconds left in the first quarter, the Knicks continued to extend their lead.
Cheers echoed through the Madison Square Garden.
Easily defeating the opponent's core player one-on-one was a scene New York fans loved to see.
Iverson, his chest feeling tight from the collision, glared at Lee, who was shrugging his shoulders and looked relaxed.
He didn't complain to the referee, but instead received the ball on the baseline and continued his stubborn offensive drive.
This time, Allen Iverson's forced breakthrough from the left wing was again blocked by Lee, who knocked him to the ground. Fortunately, the referee's whistle blew in time, and Allen Iverson earned free throws.
From the TNT broadcast booth, Kevin Harlan subtly commented on Allen Iverson's aggressive play over several possessions:
"This isn't the best offensive option. Allen Iverson should realize that the 76ers' other players are in good form tonight, and he should continue to focus on playmaking as he did in the first half of the quarter."
Doug Collins seemed to admire Allen Iverson's spirit, and at this point, he actively praised him:
"Star players truly should have this kind of competitive spirit!"
"To defeat an opponent with one's own ability, I see a shadow of Michael Jordan in Allen Iverson!"
"..."
This praise left Kevin Harlan speechless.
No matter how he looked at it, he felt Allen Iverson and Michael Jordan had nothing in common.
One of two free throws made, Allen Iverson had already scored 3 points.
In the following few minutes, he continuously missed shots, leading the Knicks to a counterattack.
The fun-loving fans in the arena initially cheered, but seeing Clay Lee completely shut down Allen Iverson, they found it boring.
21:36, at the end of the first quarter, the Knicks held a significant lead over their opponent.
Entering March, the Knicks had only 5 games to play in the first half of the month, two of which were against the 76ers.
The schedule was particularly light, allowing the coach staff to rotate extensively.
However, among the reserves, Amar'e Stoudemire had re-entered the injury list.
Ever since he was diagnosed with a potential injury, this Rookie had been in a state of extended recovery for minor ailments.
General Manager Grunfeld was concerned about Amar'e Stoudemire's knee issues.
With no pressure on their record, health became the top priority.
Grant Hill didn't take the game to heart.
He noticed some Donkey Party members in the front row and couldn't help but whisper to Lee:
"It seems they specifically came to see you."
Lee had already noticed the few people sitting and chatting animatedly in the front rows.
However, he didn't care.
After Kerry won the primary, the Donkey Party seemed to want to mobilize everything, but that was none of his business.
"I'm just an ordinary basketball player. If it's for donations, I'm willing to donate tens of thousands of dollars."
Drinking his prepared beverage, Lee shrugged, giving Grant Hill a look.
He rarely interacted with politicians in public, at most chatting with the New York City mayor.
The stubborn Allen Iverson came out early in the second quarter.
Although the staggered appearance gave him an opportunity, his shooting touch was terrible tonight, and he missed three more shots in a row.
When the main lineups returned in the latter half of the quarter, Iverson seemed to lose his emotion, no longer stubbornly defending Lee, and lacked aggressiveness on offense, focusing more on passing the ball.
Throughout the entire first half, Allen Iverson's only field goal came from a transition offense, converted after Clay Lee missed a three-pointer.
35:62, by halftime, the outcome was no longer in doubt.
Allen Iverson shot 1-of-11 from the field, 5-of-8 from the free-throw line, finishing with 7 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 turnovers.
The All-Star guard kept his head down as he walked towards the player tunnel.
Although New York fans were no longer mocking him, Allen Iverson felt particularly miserable.
Limited by his ability, even the haters were gone, which meant he was truly fading away.
In the second half, the 76ers' offense continued to sputter.
Kenny Thomas and Glenn Robinson carried the team's offense, while Allen Iverson continued to miss shots under Lee's Defense.
A 17:28 quarter brought the score to 52:90 after three quarters.
With such a huge point differential in a nationally televised game, Kevin Harlan was a bit helpless.
He had already chatted about gossip for an entire quarter:
"This season, the 76ers, like the Orlando Magic, have been plagued by injuries."
"Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady have experienced severe declines. I admire their willpower, but I still want to advise players not to play with injuries."
Doug Collins had been praising Allen Iverson's never-give-up spirit for the entire game, but the player almost broke the rim.
At this point, he genuinely couldn't praise him anymore:
"I agree with that point. The Knicks' injury management is excellent, but Knight and Amar'e Stoudemire still suffered injuries this season."
"Ron Artest and Grant Hill also haven't played a full season. Mike D'Antoni and the coach staff have been consistently managing the minutes of the starting lineup."
"If the 76ers want to continue to contend for the playoffs, they also need to ensure their players' physical condition."
In the fourth quarter, Allen Iverson sat on the bench with a towel over his head.
He shot 1-of-16 from the field and 7-of-10 from the free-throw line, ultimately scoring only 9 points in the game.
With their Good Brother's head down and silent, the mood-makers didn't dare to speak up.
Everyone didn't even know how to comfort Allen Iverson.
His stats were truly too dismal.
On the Knicks' bench, Lee instinctively glanced at the box score.
Seeing Allen Iverson's stats, he let out a long sigh of relief:
"A battle from afar, the Knicks win!"
78:114. When the game ended, Madison Square Garden erupted again.
A decisive victory, which New York fans never tired of seeing.
Clay Lee played 30 minutes, shooting 10-of-18 from the field, 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, scoring a game-high 26 points.
Allen Iverson left the player tunnel early.
He hadn't shaken hands with Lee in a long time, just as he didn't speak during the All-Star Game.
He disliked his "arch-rival" even more.
When Craig Sager interviewed Lee, he didn't ask the questions he had prepared.
Allen Iverson's performance was too dismal.
He had no interest in kicking him while he was down:
"Lee, what are the team's plans for the March games? You still have a chance to break the historical best record!"
After winning the game, the Knicks' record stood at 56 wins and 6 losses, ranking first in the NBA, significantly ahead of all other teams.
Hearing the question about the record, Lee naturally spoke truthfully:
"The team's goal is to have a complete roster and everyone back before the playoffs begin."
"Breaking records is certainly a wonderful thing, but we hope to enter the playoffs in excellent physical condition even more!"
Lee spoke easily, as the schedule for the first half of the month was truly favorable, providing a good period for everyone to adjust their physical condition.
With a 22-39 record, the 76ers were completely out of contention, most likely missing the playoffs this season.
After some polite back-and-forth, Craig Sager still asked the usual question:
"We all know the 76ers have been affected by injuries this season, Lee. What do you think of Allen Iverson's performance this season?"
When his old rival was mentioned, Lee didn't mock him, but instead spoke seriously:
"It's never easy for a short player to establish himself in the NBA!"
"Allen Iverson has performed well this season. He has been fighting injuries. He is a true fighter! I like his attitude towards the game."
On March 5th, in the away game against the Toronto Raptors, Pau Gasol exploded again, playing 36 minutes, shooting 14-of-19 from the field, 7-of-8 from the free throw line, and scoring 35 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks, and 2 turnovers.
35 points was also a new career high for Pau Gasol.
Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors also performed well in the absence of Carter due to injury, shooting 6-of-12 and getting a double-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 turnovers.
Compared to LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, Bosh received less attention.
Many fans only learned about this Rookie player from the Toronto Raptors' gossip.
Unlike the "fake fan" Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh was half a fan of Clay Lee.
Although he lost the game, he repeatedly praised Lee's performance after the game:
"We've played each other a few times this season, but every time I learn a lot from Clay Lee."
"He's really too good. He even knows our tactics for every possession!"
"I don't know how to describe him. I've watched Michael Jordan play, but I haven't played against him."
"In my heart, Clay Lee is the greatest of all time. When he's on the court, he's constantly influencing the game!"
"..."
After the first week of games, the commentators stopped caring about the New York Knicks.
There were only three games to play next week, and all opponents were weak teams, so it was destined to be another victory.
On Sunday evening, the 7th, the New York Knicks played an away game against the Washington Wizards.
Kwame Brown finally got more playing time this season, but his own game performance was mediocre, and he failed to show his talent.
Gilbert Arenas had great stats after joining the Washington Wizards, but the team didn't win games.
With a record of 19 wins and 41 losses, under Gilbert Arenas's leadership, the Washington Wizards seemed to have no changes and were basically confirmed to be fishing.
106:86, the New York Knicks' performance was average, but the opponent had 20 turnovers.
Relying on a 30:16 third quarter, they ultimately won the game.
Gilbert Arenas had just arrived in the Eastern Conference this season, and he hadn't been beaten badly many times before.
After the game, he was still in a state of hugging everyone he met.
After some commercial mutual praise with Lee, Gilbert Arenas reluctantly left.
He liked to perform in the spotlight.
Ron Artest looked down on Gilbert Arenas's "brother" personality, where he called everyone "brother" upon meeting them.
After returning to the locker room, he grumbled twice:
"This guy just knows how to show off. After every game, it's like he didn't lose."
Dikembe Mutombo had a look that said, "I've seen many players like that":
"In the NBA, that's the only way to get by. Many times, business is business, and we have to learn to get along with people, because no one can be sure of their future."
Ron Artest had no intention of leaving New York, and he also believed the team wouldn't give up on him, after all, he was a kid from Queens.
The game was won easily.
When Lee returned to the locker room, everyone was chatting.
Grant Hill was talking about NCAA, and then suddenly said:
"This season, Duke University and University of Connecticut have a chance to meet."
Lee interrupted him, knowing that Grant Hill would definitely say Duke would win, so he said in advance:
"University of Connecticut will win the championship again, their third in team history. I'll go watch the Finals in early April!"
Everyone booed, and then continued to place bets.
Every March Madness, everyone would make a small wager, and for the past two years, Lee had been giving them money.
On tuesday, the 9th, the New York Knicks easily defeated the Celtics after returning home.
After losing this game, the Celtics' record came to 28 wins and 37 losses.
After Head Coach John Carroll took over the team, the management was somewhat indecisive.
This current record is a bit awkward.
With some effort, there's still a chance to make the playoffs, but if they tank, they can't compare to those teams that have lost so much.
Even if they get the 8th seed, facing the New York Knicks in the playoffs would most likely be a first-round exit.
But what the Celtics found absurd was that missing the playoffs wasn't an easy task either.
87:108, after the loss, Paul Pierce proactively stated in an interview:
"We still have a chance to make the playoffs, and I won't give up!"
"As for facing the New York Knicks in the first round, I don't care about that. I just want to be responsible to the fans. Many times, winning or losing doesn't matter."
Paul Pierce's statement at the press conference was also for the management to hear.
Rather than tanking at the end of the season, it's better to make the playoffs and get a good reputation!
On the evening of the 12th, the New York Knicks welcomed their last game of the week.
Fans who bought tickets to watch the game at First Union Center in Philadelphia were very disappointed.
Allen Iverson and Glenn Robinson were out with injuries tonight.
Without two star players, the New York Knicks had no one to hit hard, and the 76ers played much more smoothly instead.
After the game began, Philadelphia fans were booing Lee wildly.
Many believed that the main reason Allen Iverson had fallen into a slump was losing to Clay Lee too many times.
However, the boos couldn't change the team's strength.
After the home team scored 12 points in the second quarter, the live fans fell silent.
It was another game that ended in three quarters, 107:87, and the 76ers were getting closer and closer to fishing.
In the first half of the month, as the New York Knicks easily went on a 5-game winning streak, the New York Media began to make predictions.
Sports Illustrated recently took another group photo of the entire New York Knicks team.
After March Madness, and before the playoffs, they will release a special issue on the New York Knicks.
Last year, the entire New York Knicks team also appeared in Sports Illustrated.
For role players, this experience was naturally very wonderful.
The Los Angeles Lakers also had a relatively easy schedule in the first half of the month, but Kobe had to rush to Denver recently, which also affected the team's record.
In the Pacific Division, the competition between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings is very fierce.
As long as either team can surpass the other, they can win the division championship.
Even if the Timberwolves ultimately withstand the pressure and secure the Western Conference's top spot, the division championship allows the two teams to secure the 2nd seed.
In this regard, the San Antonio Spurs, who were gradually getting into form, suffered a big loss.
As long as the Timberwolves could surpass them, regardless of their record, the San Antonio Spurs could only get the third seed.
The MVP competition also entered a white-hot stage, now becoming a competition between Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan.
The New York Knicks are the best team in the NBA, and Clay Lee's stats lead all players.
The MVP race this season is essentially a struggle for the "second person."
Tim Duncan has also been dealing with some injuries recently.
After defeating the Warriors, the San Antonio Spurs' record came to 44 wins and 22 losses.
Although they won, Gregg Popovich was still not in high spirits.
On Saturday the 13th, during an interview with a sports media outlet, Gregg Popovich complained about the format:
"The team with the better record can't get the corresponding ranking. I don't like this result!"
"In recent years, everyone has started to focus on stats and championships, but they've overlooked some issues."
"The format is only one aspect; many times, excellent players don't get the attention they deserve, which is a loss for the NBA!"
"Tim Duncan should win MVP. He is the best big man in the NBA, but everyone has ignored his performance this season."
Players will pursue honors, and Tim Duncan is no exception.
After losing the Finals last season in an extremely frustrating way, the big man was truly angry!
In response, Gregg Popovich could only offer encouragement, singing praises for Tim Duncan in front of the media whenever he had the chance, praising him in various ways.
The ESPN reporter was originally only concerned about Tim Duncan's injury, but hearing Gregg Popovich's complaints, he couldn't help but ask:
"Belonging to the same division, the Timberwolves' record is better than the San Antonio Spurs'!"
"Kevin Garnett's performance this season seems to be better than Tim Duncan's. He has already won two Player of the Month awards."
Mentioning the Timberwolves, Gregg Popovich was again filled with anger.
Their salary was much higher than theirs:
"When selecting the MVP, the team's roster should also be considered!"
"Kevin Garnett has Sam Cassell and Sprewell by his side, while the San Antonio Spurs are currently a rebuilding team!"
"Leading Rookies to this record, Tim Duncan is clearly superior!"
The TNT reporter looked at the somewhat emotional Gregg Popovich and suddenly said:
"Why not talk about the New York Knicks? Clay Lee is the best player in the NBA. This season, he has once again led the team to a historic record."
"..."
When Lee was mentioned, Gregg Popovich immediately fell silent.
Not only was the format problematic, but the award selection was also problematic.
Automatically ignoring that remark, Gregg Popovich emphasized again:
"Tim Duncan is the best big man in the NBA! He should win MVP!"
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)