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Dragon Emperor in Pokemon World.
The return of Itachi
I am Sasuke. Why should I defect from Konoha.
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***
Sam Cassell, who was almost 35, couldn't quite understand modern basketball.
This veteran, who had experienced the early 90s, suddenly felt he couldn't keep up with the times.
After the Timberwolves' offense went cold in the third quarter, they trailed by 15 points until Head Coach Saunders pulled the starters with 1:02 left in the game.
A strong start and a weak finish, an offensive shootout in the first half, and a cold spell in the second half.
To Timberwolves fans, the loss was inexplicable.
The Target Center began to echo with boos.
Sam Cassell, not in the best physical condition, looked increasingly grim.
He turned to his teammates, feeling that everyone had played well.
Sprewell started again tonight, but only played 25 minutes in this game.
The coaching staff limited his playing time, which naturally affected his stats.
With a long face and not speaking to his teammates, Sprewell showed a disdainful expression, completely ignoring the on-site director's camera.
As the game neared its end, Tom Hanneman, with a full head of brown hair, was flushed with emotion in the commentary box.
The announcer, who had been working with the Timberwolves since 1989, said unceremoniously:
"In the first game of the new season, we witnessed a rout. Unbelievable, the team played terribly in the second half!"
"Kevin Garnett got good numbers, but he was 1-for-6 in the third quarter, scoring only 4 points, and failed to respond in time."
"Sam Cassell seemed to lose his composure. He tried to end the game with individual offense, and ultimately he was destroyed by Clay Lee."
"Our proud Defense disappeared. Players just followed their opponents. 11 turnovers in the second half. Perhaps Head Coach Saunders should address the locker room issues."
After an offseason of hype about a promising future, the opening game ended in a huge loss.
3-for-11 in the second half, 3-for-6 from the free-throw line, Sam Cassell tried to respond, but his performance of 9 points, 4 assists, and 4 turnovers was hard to be satisfied with.
This veteran only had his tough attitude left.
Lee easily dominated him on both ends of the court.
One minute of the game flashed by.
Both sides missed a few shots, and amidst a chorus of boos, the Timberwolves suffered an opening-day loss.
116:104, the New York Knicks, playing back-to-back, secured their second consecutive win.
Kevin Garnett's stats were particularly impressive: 39 minutes played, 13-for-21 from the field, 2-for-4 from the free-throw line, tallying 28 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, and 2 turnovers.
Even excellent stats couldn't improve Kevin Garnett's mood, especially when he saw Sprewell cordially bumping fists with Clay Lee and a few others after the game, which made him curse under his breath:
"Damn it! This is our home court!"
Kurt Thomas, who got more playing time in the second half, lived up to the coaching staff's trust, performing exceptionally well on the defensive end.
Amar'e Stoudemire, though winning, wasn't in the best mood.
In a crucial game, he still didn't receive more trust.
Sam Cassell was very gracious.
After adjusting his emotions, he initiative bumped fists with Lee, but his expression quickly changed.
"Man, I told you guys, you should slow down. That's the right choice."
"..."
Lee reiterated his old advice, once again giving guidance to the champion.
Seeing the other party's grimace, he laughed, patted the veteran's shoulder, and walked away.
The flu hit many teams, but in the season's opening games that day, most of last season's playoff teams secured victories.
The highly anticipated Cavaliers also defeated the Pacers in their season opener.
85:92. Although the process was challenging, Van Gundy was very satisfied with the game.
Playing 40 minutes, LeBron James was 7-for-15 from the field, 2-for-5 from beyond the arc, and 7-for-8 from the free-throw line, tallying an all-around stat line of 23 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, and 5 turnovers.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas was 10-for-20 from the field and 9-for-10 from the free-throw line, scoring a game-high 29 points, and also grabbing 12 rebounds.
Rookie Dwight Howard also performed exceptionally well, going 6-for-11 from the field and 0-for-4 from the free-throw line, for a double-double of 12 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, and 4 blocks.
Compared to the Pacers, the Cavaliers consistently maintained their height in the paint, showcasing excellent Defense!
LeBron James and Dwight Howard, playing happy basketball, were particularly excited after the game, naturally exchanging compliments during interviews.
Van Gundy worked tirelessly this offseason, playing the kind of basketball he envisioned, feeling a great sense of accomplishment.
After the game, in front of the Cavaliers fans, Van Gundy confidently stated, somewhat boastfully:
"In less than 5 years, we will lift the O'Brien Trophy. I have already seen the future!"
"..."
The Heat also easily defeated the Nets in their away game.
100:77. Without Jason Kidd, the Nets seemed to have reverted to a bottom-feeder team.
Shaquille O'Neal played only 20 minutes in his debut, going 7-for-9 from the field and 2-for-7 from the free-throw line, for 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 turnovers.
Dwyane Wade played 36 minutes, going 7-for-14 from the field and 7-for-10 from the free-throw line, tallying 21 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 3 turnovers.
After a 29:15 first quarter, Shaquille O'Neal, winning easily, didn't forget to mock his old team:
"Hyenas can't compare to lions. They misjudged me. I'm still the best big man in the NBA!"
"Dwyane Wade is better than you think. He knows his potential. Our combination will succeed."
"Later, in the Christmas War, I will make our opponents despair! Without me, the Los Angeles Lakers won't win a championship."
The Los Angeles Lakers have already started preselling tickets for the Christmas War, and ticket prices have already risen to levels similar to the Finals.
Bystanders couldn't wait.
Everyone wanted to see Shaquille O'Neal return to Los Angeles and beat up his old team.
In a back-to-back game, the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Utah Jazz.
Halftime: 28:45. Kobe was 1-for-7 from the field and 9-for-12 from the free-throw line, scoring 11 points.
Although the Los Angeles Lakers' form improved in the second half, they ultimately lost the game.
78:104. Jerry Sloan did not blindly pursue shooting; he still stuck to his usual tactical system.
Kobe Bryant played 41 minutes throughout the game, going 9-for-21 from the field and 16-for-20 from the free-throw line, scoring a game-high 38 points.
The entire Los Angeles Lakers team had only 7 assists, and the excessive individual solation plays led critics to question Tomjanovich's tactical system.
Mocked by Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe couldn't hold back either.
He rarely gave interviews but proactively retorted:
"I'm not interested in arguing with guys who disrespect basketball, and I certainly won't keep talking about one championship."
"You can judge as you please, but the fact is some people are satisfied. I won't be that way. I always play with hunger."
Thursday, November 4th, TNT previewed three games for the evening.
The Cavaliers and Heat game attracted a lot of attention.
However, there have been many hot topics among critics recently.
The birth of Win Share (WS) has sparked considerable controversy.
This stat first appeared in baseball in the 1970s and has since been continuously refined and is now widely accepted.
In contrast, the development of basketball statistics has been slower, but Dean Oliver's "Basketball on Paper," written in 2002, has also gained industry recognition.
Born in 1969, Dean Oliver played at California Institute of Technology.
In his junior year, he served as an assistant coach for the team.
After graduating in 1990, he chose to pursue further education.
In 1994, he earned a Ph.D. in Applied Statistics for Environmental Science from the University of North Carolina. Afterward, he joined a scouting organization run by Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Bill Bertka.
During this time, this data-focused basketball professional also published expert basketball articles on About.com.
After publishing professional books, he finally completed the advanced Win Share metric in October of this year.
ESPN gave it a very high rating, and Dean Oliver became the NBA's first full-time statistical analyst.
Interestingly, the team that hired this data expert was the New York Knicks.
Compared to Player Efficiency Rating (PER), Win Share (WS) is an advanced metric that measures player value based on wins.
OWS represents the offensive end, and DWS represents the defensive end.
WS is ultimately derived from these two metrics.
The main reason ESPN gave it a higher rating was that this advanced metric considers playing time.
Currently, the biggest use of this advanced metric is to facilitate cross-era debates among critics.
TNT doesn't seem to like this data because it doesn't align with basketball intuition.
Data expert Hollinger continued to praise Lee fiercely since the start of the new season.
Charles Barkley, having heard it too many times, developed a rebellious attitude:
"What's the use of these stats? Those guys who can't play always like to measure the game with numbers!"
"Perhaps Clay Lee listened to their advice: three-pointers, fast breaks, driving layups. Since the new season started, I haven't seen any improvement in him."
"Perhaps he doesn't want to refine his skills at all. In recent years, his technical aspects have become increasingly singular. I don't see any post-up moves from him at all."
In the studio, Charles Barkley looked heartbroken, almost directly saying that Clay Lee was complacent.
Kenny Smith looked at his partner's performance helplessly, shaking his head and refuting:
"Clay Lee indeed hasn't showcased his post-up skills, but he eliminated teams that excelled at post-up plays. He is the biggest winner of this era."
"Why change himself? I've seen Lee's improvement. He can even hit three-pointers from 26 feet out."
"Refining shooting skills also requires a lot of effort. Clay Lee must have put in tremendous effort!"
"If one day a fadeaway jump shot becomes worth 3 points, perhaps Lee will change his technical characteristics."
Charles Barkley was rendered speechless, as the ultimate goal of a basketball game is to put the ball into the hoop.
Ernie Johnson, hearing their argument, started to fan the flames again:
"Win Share might help us understand the difference between superstars and ordinary players."
"Chuck, even though you don't have a championship, perhaps this advanced metric will give you a fairer evaluation!"
Charles Barkley was so annoyed by the two of them that he could only loudly proclaim on the show about "tough physicality," "the NBA getting softer," and "I could create a dynasty in this era."
Seeing Barkley's emotional breakdown, the studio was filled with a joyful atmosphere.
That night, Dwyane Wade led his team to win the highly anticipated game between the Cavaliers and the Heat.
86:92. Thanks to Dwyane Wade's excellent performance, the Heat secured a two-game winning streak.
Wade, a sophomore, seemed to be fulfilling his potential, scoring a game-high 28 points on 10-of-20 shooting from the field and 8-of-10 from the free-throw line.
Shaquille O'Neal had 17 points on 7-of-18 shooting against the Cavaliers' interior, but he also made the opposing big men pay, as the Cavaliers' interior offense went silent.
LeBron James played 44 minutes, scoring 23 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 1 turnover on 9-of-23 shooting from the field, 2-of-4 from three-point range, and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line.
The Cavaliers only committed 8 turnovers in the entire game, and despite the loss, Head Coach Van Gundy was very satisfied with the team's performance.
At the end of the game, the Van Gundy brothers embraced, both believing their teams had a bright future!
On Saturday morning, November 6th, at the Tarrytown Training Center, after the video session, New York Times reporters accompanying the team once again surrounded Clay Lee.
After the new season began, the Phoenix Suns, under the guidance of Alvin Gentry, also transformed into an offensive powerhouse.
The trade for Quentin Richardson from the Clippers, in exchange for Ruben Patterson and a second-round pick, played a crucial role.
Dale Davis, whose performance had significantly declined with the Portland Trail Blazers, also found his form reactivated by Steve Nash after joining the Phoenix Suns.
After successively defeating the Atlanta Hawks and the 76ers, both games saw their scores reach 110 points, and the Phoenix Suns' performance immediately attracted the attention of many basketball commentators.
However, the New York Times' column article this morning sarcastically mocked their opponents: "Clumsy imitators!"
Fans also strongly agreed, lambasting the Phoenix Suns as "copycats," asserting that such beautiful offense should be exclusively enjoyed by New York fans!
Lee was not surprised that the Phoenix Suns blew out the 76ers.
Steve Nash is also a highly efficient core point guard who relies on shooting, and in the current version, with some help from the referees, his stats naturally explode.
The New York Post reporter did not ask about tonight's game-related content, but instead brought up the Phoenix Suns' tactics:
"With two games scoring 110 points, Clay Lee, do you think the Phoenix Suns are imitating us? Can this team cause us trouble this season?"
Lee had only read the newspaper.
Since the new season began, he had been more focused on the current opponents and hadn't watched any Phoenix Suns game footage.
However, Lee was aware of Steve Nash's individual abilities and playing style, and sensing the somewhat angry mood of the crowd, he immediately spoke up to offer simple reassurance:
"I believe the Phoenix Suns can achieve a good record in the regular season, but a championship isn't that simple!"
"The New York Knicks are not a team that relies on three-pointers and offense. If the Phoenix Suns want to reach the Finals, they have to break out of the Western Conference first."
"I'm more optimistic about the San Antonio Spurs. They just re-signed Tony Parker two days ago, and under Tim Duncan's leadership, they have completed their rebuilding."
"As for tactical play, I believe Coach D'Antoni will be very happy to see opponents imitating us. This also represents a form of recognition!"
"It's certainly the right thing to do to imitate a championship team's play, but they still need to work harder. I think Steve Nash can increase his shot attempts. He has that ability."
Everyone understood Lee's underlying message: the Phoenix Suns are just a regular season team.
The New York Times reporter was pleased to hear this.
Recently, Ron Artest had been making appearances at nightclubs with his entourage to promote his new album, so they took the opportunity to ask about the team's situation:
"Ron seems to be putting more effort into off-court activities this year, Lee. Will this affect the team's performance?"
The NBA has already approved the New York Knicks' injury exception request, which means Grant Hill will not play before June 15th.
Ron Artest will take on more responsibilities, and the New York Media are somewhat concerned about the DPOY's condition.
"Life is bigger than basketball. We have to respect individual choices. As a professional player, Ron will take care of his own condition."
Ron Artest was not late for training, and as for late-night extra practice, Lee didn't care.
He reassured the reporters, and everyone felt at ease.
In fact, NBA stars with stable contracts all go out to have fun at night.
The New York Media recently reported on Ron Artest and his entourage's rich nightlife and terrible RAP rhythm.
The coaching staff can't tie the players to the training ground.
As long as they train on time, no one will say anything extra about things outside of basketball.
At 8 PM, at Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks welcomed their final game of the week.
After Doug Rivers became the Celtics Head Coach, the new season began with two consecutive losses.
After narrowly losing to the 76ers and the Pacers, Rivers desperately needed a soft opponent!
Once the game began, Rivers was fully immersed, with shouts of "Let's go" constantly echoing from the sidelines.
Gary Payton was also holding his breath.
This veteran was still bothered by the Finals loss.
Raef LaFrentz, who was plagued by injuries last season, returned to the starting lineup, while Mark Blount continued to serve as the starting center.
The two 2.10-meter big men formed the interior, and while they had sufficient height for rim protection, they encountered some issues when facing pick-and-rolls.
Rivers loudly reminded Payton, Ricky Davis, and Pierce to pay attention to the traps at the top of the key.
At the start of the game, the Celtics stubbornly played a 3-2 zone Defense.
After scoring 4 consecutive points at the start, the Celtics' offense stalled again.
"Defense!"
Amidst the defensive cheers, Payton directed LaFrentz to come up for a pick-and-roll.
Payton, with the ball in his right hand at the top of the arc, dribbled between his legs, feigned acceleration for a drive, then stopped abruptly and quickly dribbled behind his back.
As Lee pressed up to defend, Payton quickly changed direction in front of his body, with continuous fakes, but still couldn't shake off the Defense.
In desperation, Payton, near the free-throw line, flung the ball out to the three-point line.
The wide-open LaFrentz ultimately couldn't maintain his shooting touch and clanked a shot off the rim.
The basketball happened to fly into the hands of Ron Artest, who had dropped back into the paint.
As he grabbed the rebound, Pierce immediately stepped up to delay him.
As the two squeezed together, Pierce repeatedly tried to swipe the ball away.
Ron Artest, clutching the ball, twisted his body to protect it.
Noticing Pierce's hand on the ball, Ron Artest twisted his body again, and an elbow directly sent Pierce sprawling to the ground.
"Oh!"
Fans gasped in unison, watching Pierce clutch his nose and fall to the ground in pain, with blood visible.
Immediately, players from both teams gathered around.
After the team doctor entered the court, Pierce was carried off.
The referee called a Flagrant Foul 2, and Ron Artest was ejected from the game less than three minutes into the first quarter.
"That was indeed an unnecessary move. It looks like Tayshaun Prince will get more playing time tonight."
From the MSG broadcast booth, Mike Breen didn't offer much explanation, acknowledging the referee's call.
Walt Frazier shook his head slightly and added simply:
"Ron Artest should perhaps put more effort into basketball. Since the new season began, his form has been ordinary, and he seems to still be adapting to the new rules."
As the two in the broadcast booth discussed the New York Knicks' recent game performance, on the Celtics' bench, Rivers heard the team doctor's words and had no choice but to substitute in Travis Best.
Without a core player, Rivers felt the team was doomed.
The struggling Gary Payton couldn't carry the team's offense, and Mark Blount became the Celtics' offensive focal point.
They tried to play inside-out but couldn't find good offensive opportunities.
After two free throws and a throw-in, the Celtics committed a 24-second violation.
New York fans immediately started jeering loudly.
Payton had actually committed such a basic turnover!
"Shit!"
Payton, who was so focused on organizing the offense that he couldn't even get a shot off in the end, cursed under his breath.
Back on Defense, Payton felt a headache coming on when he saw Pau Gasol coming up for a screen.
Unable to squeeze through on the left wing in time, Payton shouted a warning, and the big man Blount could only slide along with him.
In a "V-shaped" stance, as Lee drove to the left restricted area, Raja Bell began to move up from the left corner.
Ricky Davis noticed that his teammate hadn't lost position and ultimately chose not to help, watching Lee drive to the baseline.
The big man Blount, with his right hand raised high, was still trailing Lee.
At the same time, Payton and LaFrentz had also retreated into the paint, and the recently subbed-in Travis Best also twisted his body to help defend.
Underneath the basket, surrounded by four defenders, Lee, holding the ball in his left hand, paused slightly while moving, then directly flung the ball to the right corner.
Tayshaun Prince received the ball and slowly drove along the baseline.
Clay Lee, who had just passed the ball, suddenly accelerated and ran towards the right corner.
Travis Best realized Tayshaun Prince was going to pass too late and could only watch as Lee received the ball in the right corner and launched a fading jump shot!
"Swish!" The three-pointer swished through the net.
4:9. The cheers became particularly grating.
The lack of defensive continuity infuriated Rivers, who couldn't help but clap and shout again, loudly reminding his players to concentrate.
"A wonderful play! In the first few possessions, we've responded from the corner every time."
"It seems the Celtics' zone Defense has failed!"
Walt Frazier no longer discussed Ron Artest's issues, loudly praising the team's teamwork.
During the Celtics' offensive possession, Mike Breen saw Pau Gasol commit a foul, sending Mark Blount to the free-throw line, and added:
"Fortunately, November only has 13 games. Pau Gasol's jump shot has been problematic recently, and he still needs to find his rhythm in games."
During the free throw, Payton, from beyond the three-point line, reminded his teammates to pay attention to transition Defense.
The second free throw bounced off the rim, and Kurt Thomas secured the defensive rebound.
As Lee received the ball, Payton moved sideways to delay him, then again called for his teammates to quickly retreat on Defense.
Lee, holding the ball in his left hand, was in no hurry to attack.
When Payton wasn't closely guarding him, he looked up to observe the Defense, feigning acceleration while suddenly flinging the ball upcourt.
On the left wing, Raja Bell received the ball.
Ricky Davis, who had quickly retreated on Defense, had already shrunk inside the three-point line.
Watching Raja Bell shoot as soon as he got the ball, Ricky Davis made a token lunge, and then cheers erupted again.
5:12. The score difference wasn't large, but the Celtics were feeling uncomfortable.
They had watched the tape, yet still couldn't accept this kind of haphazard shooting game.
As an experienced veteran, Gary Payton felt that Lee's offense was just a three-trick pony, but no matter how he directed, the Defense just wouldn't work.
When he was with the Los Angeles Lakers, Payton believed the Finals loss was related to his inability to direct the team.
After coming to the Celtics, Rivers greatly respected him and made him the core point guard.
Payton was a bit anxious.
Scoring in dribs and drabs only led to quick counterattacks, and the point difference gradually widened, but he didn't have many good solutions.
He missed a three-pointer, and Payton watched Lee grab the long rebound, immediately stepping forward to delay him.
After several consecutive rushes, the New York Knicks also slowed down, but the cheers in the Madison Square Garden grew louder, and the game seemed to enter a much-anticipated rhythm of crushing the opponent.
Lee's dribbling speed wasn't fast, and Payton tried to steal the ball.
Relying on his quicker reaction speed, Lee simply used a behind-the-back dribble to evade the Defense.
Switching to his left hand, Lee waited for Payton to come forward again.
After a body collision, he slowly but surely broke through the mid-court line.
Payton became furious and no longer cared about the referee, actively increasing his aggressiveness.
As soon as he stick Defense to Lee's side at the top of the arc, he saw Pau Gasol standing at the three-point line and quickly called out to his teammates.
Pau Gasol faked a screen and then cut, immediately drawing the Defense of the big man Mark Blount.
Clay Lee suddenly wrapped the ball behind his back and led the ball forward the moment he switched to his right hand.
Suddenly accelerating, Payton quickly slid backward to the left, but the fierce breakthrough he had anticipated from Lee didn't materialize.
Leaning into the Defense again, Lee drove towards the free-throw line with Payton on his back, then pulled the ball back between his legs, causing the veteran beside him to stumble due to inertia.
Hearing the fans' jeering shouts, Payton gritted his teeth and rushed to defend again.
Before he could attempt a steal, Lee suddenly spun quickly on his right foot as an axis.
He easily evaded the Defense while scooping the ball with his right hand again, giving Payton no chance to chase.
Lee took a large dribble, then stepped forward for a layup, scoring with a right-handed floater directly in front of the rim!
"Wow!"
Cheers echoed throughout the Madison Square Garden as Lee effortlessly toyed with his opponent by changing his rhythm.
"It's still more suitable for you to be a substitute. Derek's condition is indeed better than yours!"
While serving the ball, Lee quietly teased Payton in front of him.
The latter turned his head just in time to see Derek Fisher grinning widely and wildly waving a towel on the bench, instantly becoming enraged:
"Damn it! Don't think you can win forever!"
Payton, provoked by Lee, forgot the fact of his declining physical condition and also disregarded Doug Rivers's words, completely entering offensive mode.
Accelerating the offensive rhythm, led by Payton, the New York Knicks quickly launched an 8:0 run.
Doug Rivers's timeout had no effect.
He didn't substitute Payton, instead giving the veteran a lot of face and continuing to say, "Let's go."
Amidst the happy shouts of the New York fans, after the first quarter ended, Payton walked towards the bench with pursed lips, looking extremely dejected.
17:34. After the New York Knicks substituted their big man, the Celtics also failed to seize the opportunity, instead losing more and more.
With Pierce unable to return, the remaining three quarters of the game almost turned into an offensive show by the New York Knicks, and Lee also clocked out after three quarters.
4 of 12 from the field, 0 of 3 from three-point range, 4 of 4 from the free-throw line, 12 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 turnovers.
On the Celtics' bench, Payton was very disappointed with his performance.
At 36 years old, with declining physical abilities, Payton still firmly believed he could be the starting point guard, but tonight's loss began to shake his belief.
However, seeing Derek Fisher on the court enjoying the game, Payton immediately cast aside those thoughts.
"No one can take my starting spot!"
Both sides traded blows for a quarter, and the final score was 90:114, with the New York Knicks easily securing their third consecutive win.
In the losing team's player tunnel, Payton was not in the mood for pleasantries.
Doug Rivers sighed silently as he watched the veteran walk away.
He also wanted to emulate the New York Knicks' tactical approach, but the Celtics' conditions simply didn't allow it.
After the game, Pierce attended the press conference.
The tough guy didn't complain about Ron Artest's elbow but instead stated firmly:
"There's a problem with my nasal bone, but that won't affect my shooting!"
"I'll be back with the team soon. Gary is playing very well, and we all want to win a championship for him."
The New York Media couldn't be bothered to refute Pierce's boasting.
With three consecutive losses, such an opponent didn't require much consideration.
In contrast, the red-hot Heat seemed to be the New York Knicks' biggest rival in the Eastern Conference!
On November 7th, Miami sports media outlets were singing praises for Dwyane Wade!
In last night's game against the Washington Wizards, Dwyane Wade scored 37 points, 8 rebounds, 12 assists, 1 steal, and 7 turnovers on 11 of 16 shooting, 1 of 1 from three-point range, and 14 of 16 from the free-throw line.
118:106. Thanks to Dwyane Wade's excellent performance, the Heat successfully defeated the Washington Wizards, securing their third consecutive win.
In the first three games of the new season, Dwyane Wade averaged 28.7 points, with a shooting percentage as high as 56.0%!
Although the data sample was small, Dwyane Wade's excellent performance still drew endless praise from basketball commentators.
However, once the NBA announced the Players of the Week, Miami sports reporters couldn't boast anymore.
With only three games in the first week, Kevin Garnett of the Timberwolves and Clay Lee of the New York Knicks were named Players of the Week.
2 wins and 1 loss, Kevin Garnett averaged 42 minutes per game, with 27.3 points, 16.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 0.7 steals, 3.0 blocks, and 3.3 turnovers per game.
He averaged 19.7 field goal attempts per game, with a shooting percentage of 57.6%, averaged 5.7 free throws per game, with a free-throw percentage of 82.4%.
After losing the opening game, Kevin Garnett became increasingly formidable, showcasing his excellent game form!
3 wins and 0 losses, Clay Lee averaged 36.0 minutes per game, with 37.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 11.7 assists, 2.7 steals, 0.3 blocks, and 2.0 turnovers per game.
He averaged 21.7 field goal attempts per game, with a shooting percentage of 55.4%, averaged 11.7 three-point attempts per game, with a three-point percentage of 50.9%.
He averaged 7.7 free throws per game, with a free-throw percentage of 95.8%.
Although his shooting percentage was slightly lower than Dwyane Wade's, Clay Lee's outrageous performance from beyond the arc still left basketball commentators stunned.
On November 9th, at Madison Square Garden, on the visiting team's bench, Allen Iverson silently watched Clay Lee raise the crystal trophy in his hand.
"Wow!"
The cheers in the Madison Square Garden made Allen Iverson uncomfortable.
After Lee moved to the shooting guard position this season, commentators once again brought him up for comparison, which greatly hurt him.
Many times, the two players' playing styles were highly similar, the difference being that Lee preferred to complete his offense from beyond the three-point line, while Iverson mostly shot jump shots from mid-range.
For an aging star, regaining attention was supposed to be a good thing, but Allen Iverson disliked the commentators' evaluation of him:
"There's a huge gap between an All-Star player and a historical-level superstar!"
In that night's game, the 76ers tried hard to control the pace of the game, and Allen Iverson gave his all.
The referees also showed him considerable favoritism, but they still lost in the end.
86:113. Lee stayed on the court with Allen Iverson until the fourth quarter, causing the latter to turn and leave immediately after the game.
He played 43 minutes, shooting 7 of 18 from the field, 1 of 3 from three-point range, and 12 of 16 from the free-throw line, for 29 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, and 8 turnovers.
Thanks to Allen Iverson's performance, Clay Lee recorded his first single-game steal count exceeding 6 in his career.
The Rookie Andre Iguodala faced Lee for the first time.
After the game, Andre Iguodala, mindful of his boss's mood, followed him towards the player tunnel with some regret.
Fans on both sides were loudly thanking Allen Iverson, and from time to time, everyone would burst into laughter.
Andre Iguodala recalled the game's process and could only sigh inwardly:
"So many fast breaks, no wonder the shooting percentage exceeded 50%!"
14 of 20 from the field, 5 of 9 from three-point range, 7 of 8 from the free-throw line, 40 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, 7 steals, 1 block.
Andre Iguodala was speechless about Clay Lee's stats.
His boss contributed quite a bit.
On the 12th, the Pacers challenged the New York Knicks on the road.
Both teams were affected by the flu, and Stephen Jackson was unable to play in this game.
For the New York Knicks, Ron Artest, who was suspended in the previous game, performed bravely, while Pau Gasol played only half the game due to discomfort.
The Pacers, playing with half their substitutes, ultimately suffered a major defeat.
81:108. Lee clocked out early, and the New York Knicks continued their winning streak.
On Saturday the 13th, in a back-to-back game, to the surprise of basketball commentators, the New York Knicks suffered their first loss of the season.
The Clippers played an amazing transition offense, and Maggette and Brand both performed efficiently, leading their team to victory!
96:108. The New York Knicks shot 8 of 29 from three-point range, with their corner threes almost bending the rim at Staples Center.
After the win, Old Dunleavy couldn't stop smiling.
He had gambled correctly, and defeating the defending champions was a huge encouragement for the Clippers!
Due to the Heat's consecutive losses to the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, the New York Knicks still held the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Mid-November, the San Antonio Spurs quietly achieved a record of 5 wins and 1 loss.
Although Duncan's stats were unremarkable, the record didn't lie.
Reaching the top spot in the Western Conference also made Gregg Popovich exceptionally confident.
The New York Knicks' Western road trip was about to encounter the San Antonio Spurs.
Regarding this, Gregg Popovich began to loudly cheer for Duncan again:
"Stats cannot reflect Tim's impact! He is not Clay, he can influence the game in different ways."
"Tim deserves an MVP this year!"
Lee's stats remained high this season, and even his offensive rebounds followed suit, almost leading Duncan by a significant margin.
After flying to San Antonio on the 15th, Coach D'Antoni immediately refuted Gregg Popovich's remarks during an interview:
"Of course, stats can reflect impact. Clay Lee can influence the game comprehensively with his personal ability."
"No matter which stats, Lee ranks among the top in the NBA. This is dominance!"
"The MVP will be awarded to the player with the best performance in the regular season. Without a doubt, this award belongs to Clay Lee!"
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