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Dragon Emperor in Pokemon World.
The return of Itachi
I am Sasuke. Why should I defect from Konoha.
Please give it a go đ
***
On November 21, 2004, the NBA announced the Players of the Week for the third week of the new season:
LeBron James of the Eastern Conference and Ray Allen of the Western Conference successfully won the awards.
The Cavaliers achieved a 3-0 record, while the Seattle SuperSonics also remained undefeated with a 4-0 record.
LeBron James averaged 29.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 3.3 steals, 2.3 blocks, and 3.3 turnovers per game.
He played an average of 44.7 minutes per game, with a field goal percentage of 50.8%, a three-point percentage of 22.2%, and a free throw percentage of 79.3%.
With an average of 20.3 shot attempts per game, LeBron James's efficient performance garnered more attention.
Ray Allen averaged 25.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 turnovers per game this week.
He had a field goal percentage of 50.7%, a three-point percentage of 64.0%, and a free throw percentage of 84.6%.
Compared to LeBron James's somewhat exaggerated playing time, Ray Allen averaged 38.5 minutes per game and 18.8 shot attempts, delivering an excellent performance that saw the Seattle SuperSonics' record begin to climb.
Recently, trade rumors surfaced that the Orlando Magic were trying to acquire Ray Allen, but after he won Player of the Week, the trade rumors were immediately denied:
"I am very satisfied with the Seattle SuperSonics' environment. Everyone here supports me, which is why I signed the contract!"
"..."
The Orlando Magic tried to get rid of Allan Houston, but the Seattle SuperSonics were not foolish.
The team had just gotten on track, and continuous wins were causing attendance to rise.
At this time, there was no reason to trade for an injured player.
On the evening of the 21st, at 7:30 PM, LeBron James, who was in high spirits due to good news, did not continue his efficient performance.
After going 0-for-4 in the first quarter and scoring zero points, LeBron James only found some shooting touch late in the second quarter.
With 3 minutes and 35 seconds left in the first half, from the MSG commentary booth, Mike Breen, taking advantage of a LeBron James turnover, started discussing the Cavaliers' status last week:
"Head Coach Van Gundy has indeed built an extremely excellent Defense system for the team!"
"In the three games last week, they limited opponents' scoring to under 90 points, but tonight the Cavaliers are encountering some difficulties. LeBron is lost in Ron Artest's Defense!"
After suppressing the opponent in the second quarter, Walt Frazier's tone became increasingly light, and he even actively offered advice to the visiting team:
"Dwight Howard needs to make himself stronger. Currently, he is still adapting to the NBA's physicality."
"The block in the first quarter was impressive, but this Rookie mostly relies on talent on the defensive end. His positioning in several possessions has been problematic."
With 3 minutes and 45 seconds left in the first half, the Cavaliers had not scored a single point in over a minute.
33:45, the opponent turned the ball over again.
After the inbound pass, Lee was not in a hurry to attack.
At this time, the Cavaliers' interior combination was still Dwight Howard and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
Since LeBron James was silent in the first quarter, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden, who came off the bench, became the team's main scorers.
Jeff McInnis was completely out of form, but Ira Newble helped the team get some points.
The main reason the Cavaliers were trailing by double digits was due to Erik Snow's continuous turnovers at the beginning of the second quarter.
In addition, after being hit with a scoring run, LeBron James also committed a turnover.
After continuous mistakes, the New York Knicks seized the opportunity and easily widened the score difference.
"Let's go Knicks!"
Amidst the cheers of the New York fans, Lee dribbled past half-court and moved to the left wing.
On the sidelines, Jeff Van Gundy was still loudly reminding his players to keep Dwight Howard focused.
Facing the New York Knicks' pick-and-roll, the on-ball defender usually chases from behind, allowing Lee to drive to the basket.
Dwight Howard has excellent athleticism, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas has a significant height advantage.
This type of Defense forces the ball-handler to take a mid-range shot.
If facing a primary scorer who is a wing player, LeBron James's job is the same: go over the screen or chase, ultimately driving his matchup into the paint.
Hearing his Head Coach's reminder, Dwight Howard watched the movement on the perimeter and began to move towards the basket.
As Raja Bell quickly cut along the baseline from the left corner, Pau Gasol had already arrived at the three-point line.
The moment he set his feet, Pau Gasol accelerated on his cut, and at the same time, Clay Lee, dribbling with his right hand, suddenly executed a between-the-legs crossover.
Jeff McInnis had intended to squeeze over the screen and step forward to stay tight on Defense, but Lee blew past him in one step.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas hadn't reacted yet, instinctively sliding backward.
Before he could reach out to grab, Lee, dribbling with his left hand and flying low to the ground, squeezed past him and drove straight to the basket!
Although Dwight Howard reacted quickly, considering Kurt Thomas behind him, his recovery to the basket was still a step slow.
Jeff McInnis, chasing from behind, subconsciously stopped his feet, staring wide-eyed as Lee took off.
Below the left side of the basket, near the paint, Lee jumped off two feet.
Amidst the gasps of the front-row fans, he gripped the ball with his left hand, pulled his arm back, bent his body, and then suddenly unleashed his power!
Dwight Howard under the basket failed to jump fully.
After rising into the air, he was bumped by Lee, and his body involuntarily began to lean backward.
With his head level with the rim, Lee, leaping high, looked down from above.
After waiting for his opponent to descend and completely clear the block, he briefly hung in the air before swinging his arm down for a thunderous dunk!
"Boom!"
The rim roared as he successfully dunked over a defender!
The clean and decisive dunk instantly ignited the Madison Square Garden.
Clay Lee wagged his finger under the basket, while Dwight Howard stumbled upon landing, steadying himself by holding onto the stanchion to avoid falling.
"Dwight Howard couldn't get the block. Clay Lee's welcoming gift should leave a deep impression on this Rookie!"
Walt Frazier laughed, teasing the play.
Mike Breen noticed Dwight Howard's smile was gone and joined in the gossip:
"It's said that this Rookie was still out at a nightclub last night. Perhaps he should prepare well. The defending champions are completely different from other teams."
33:47, the score difference reached 14 points.
LeBron James, who was playing happy basketball, was a bit anxious and started calling for the ball before even crossing half-court.
The Cavaliers' pick-and-roll often initiated near the elbow.
As he dribbled past half-court, LeBron James signaled Zydrunas Ilgauskas in advance.
On the left wing, as his teammate set a screen on the three-point line, LeBron James, dribbling with his left hand, quickly executed an In and Out move.
Faking right and driving left, he noticed Ron Artest going under the screen and Pau Gasol beginning to drop back on Defense.
LeBron James immediately gathered the ball outside the three-point line.
After a pump fake, still unopposed, LeBron James decisively shot the jump shot!
"Bang!"
The basketball hit the back of the rim and bounced high.
Dwight Howard, with his excellent leaping ability, was the first to tip the rebound.
Although his second jump touched the ball, he couldn't tip it into the basket.
Kurt Thomas boxed out, seized the opportunity, and grabbed the rebound.
Dwight Howard and LeBron James both cursed under their breath, regretting the missed opportunity.
After leading by double digits, the New York Knicks didn't let up.
Clay Lee was double-teamed on the perimeter.
Taking advantage of LeBron James's help Defense, he immediately passed the ball to Ron Artest on the right wing.
The latter caught the ball and missed a shot.
Dwight Howard secured the defensive rebound, and the Cavaliers immediately launched a fast break.
After rushing past half-court, LeBron James successfully retrieved the ball, accelerating faster and faster.
Before Lee and Tayshaun Prince could get back on Defense, he grabbed the ball with his right hand and soared for a long-distance gliding dunk!
"Boo!"
Boos erupted throughout the Madison Square Garden.
LeBron James's fast break speed was astonishing and also very demanding on Defense.
35:47, seeing LeBron James complete the fast break, Van Gundy again signaled his players to calm down.
Seeing his Head Coach's tactical hand signal, LeBron James composed himself and signaled his teammates to pay attention to their defensive positions.
With excellent interior defensive resources, the Cavaliers insisted on playing a 3-2 zone Defense, and if Lee held the ball too much on the perimeter, they would decisively double-team him.
After dribbling past half-court, Lee noticed Newble moving early and immediately passed the ball to Tayshaun Prince.
After receiving the ball, Tayshaun Prince dribbled towards the top of the arc, while Lee moved off-ball towards the left wing.
As the two crossed and switched positions, Pau Gasol, after a cross-screen under the basket, suddenly moved to the block and demanded the ball with his back to the basket.
Tayshaun Prince immediately sent a high-lobed pass.
Jeff McInnis, at this moment, did not follow the tactical instruction to double-team Pau Gasol early to complete the zone Defense.
Instead, he followed Lee towards the corner.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas also had to leave his position under the basket.
The moment he stepped up to defend, Pau Gasol, with his back to the basket, suddenly sent a bounce pass.
Clay Lee, cutting off-ball from left to right, shook off his defender.
After receiving the ball near the left baseline, he immediately drove to the basket.
Dwight Howard again stepped up to help on Defense, but just as he arrived under the basket, Lee, dribbling with his left hand, delivered a pass on the move.
On the right side near the baseline, Kurt Thomas received the ball unguarded and calmly sank the mid-range jump shot!
"Wow!"
The smooth coordination drew cheers from the New York fans, and the Cavaliers' offense also became less rushed.
After receiving the reminder, LeBron James began to run the plays systematically.
When Jeff McInnis reached the top of the arc, Ira Newble, who was in the left corner, moved from right to left along the baseline.
At the same time, LeBron James, from the right wing, accelerated towards the corner and followed his teammate to set up a screen.
In the left restricted area, Dwight Howard first set an off-ball screen for Ira Newble, who then cut to the basket.
Tayshaun Prince, behind him, used his long arms to interfere, ultimately preventing Ira Newble from getting a chance.
After one curl cut, LeBron James followed behind, also using his teammate's screen to enter the paint.
Although Jeff McInnis sent the pass, under Lee's interference, he failed to provide enough lead, forcing LeBron James to adjust his step after receiving the ball.
Being a step slow allowed Ron Artest to catch up from behind.
LeBron James, who had taken a large dribble, decisively cut towards the basket, encountering the New York Knicks' trap Defense.
He forced a layup, drawing a foul from Pau Gasol.
Under the triple-team, LeBron James was almost knocked to the ground.
Hearing the referee's whistle, he finally let out a long breath.
However, when his first free throw bounced off the rim, LeBron James couldn't help but curse under his breath again.
His second free throw went in, and boos began to erupt again in Madison Square Garden.
36:49. Although the score difference was within reach, everyone on the Cavaliers felt the game was awkward.
Completing the defensive matchup, Zydrunas Ilgauskas in the paint saw Kurt Thomas set a high screen and immediately shouted to warn Dwight Howard to be careful with the hedge.
On the right wing, Dwight Howard, who had come up to defend, saw Kurt Thomas set his feet and quickly slid to the left.
Clay Lee first dribbled behind his back to his right hand, and the moment he observed the defensive movement, he immediately changed direction in front of his body again.
Jeff McInnis, who had just squeezed through the screen, readjusted his center of gravity but ended up colliding with Kurt Thomas.
Dwight Howard, who also made a wrong read, didn't even have time to reach out.
Clay Lee stopped abruptly near the top of the arc and quickly shot a jump shot!
"Swish!" The three-pointer swished through the net.
"A 26-foot jump shot! It seems Dwight Howard wasn't ready. Clay Lee's screens have been very effective several times!"
Seeing Dwight Howard frozen in place, Walt Frazier beamed.
There was still a difference between watching film and actual play.
Clearly, the Rookie had forgotten his coach's instructions as the game progressed.
When the Cavaliers attacked again, in their impatient mood, LeBron James, running the same play, attracted the Defense and assisted Dwight Howard.
The latter received the ball and squeezed to the lower left of the basket, failing to complete a personal dunk, and ultimately his layup bounced off the rim.
In transition, Lee sprinted across half-court to the right wing and rewarded himself with a three-pointer.
The Cavaliers, who had just retreated to half-court, hadn't even had time to set up their defensive matchups when the basketball hit the front of the rim and bounced out again.
Jeff McInnis, landing, instinctively turned his head back, only to find Lee had rushed to the right elbow area, perfectly collecting the offensive rebound.
Amidst the cheers of the New York fans, Lee, holding the ball in his left hand and accelerating his drive again, instantly drew a double-team from the Cavaliers.
Directly in front of the basket, Lee took a step and leaped into the air, curling his body in mid-air to evade the blocks of Dwight Howard and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
When he reached the lower right side of the basket, he grabbed the ball with his right hand, pulled his arm to the side, and only tossed the ball towards the backboard before landing.
LeBron James, who had retreated in time, had already adjusted his steps and leaped high, ready to block.
However, seeing the basketball hit the backboard early, he instinctively swatted the ball away, and the referee immediately blew his whistle.
36:54. Offensive goaltending.
Clay Lee scored another 2 points.
The laughter from the fans in the front row made LeBron James's face grim.
He stood under the basket, looked at the basketball in his hand, and only then realized that Lee, unable to see the rim, had deliberately aimed for the backboard.
With little time left in the half, the Cavaliers' concentrated offense under the basket also paid off.
LeBron James, cutting again from a different direction, drove towards the basket against the Defense and scored with a floater.
On the last possession, the Cavaliers aggressively double-teamed, trying to force Lee to pass the ball.
However, at the last moment, Kurt Thomas made a hand-off pass in the left elbow area.
Clay Lee used the screen to shake off the Defense and got to the free throw line.
Dwight Howard's hedge was too aggressive, and he pulled Lee in the paint.
"Squeak!"
As the referee blew the whistle, Lee, using the force from his side, tossed the ball towards the basket with a casual flick of his wrist, his body twisted.
Watching the basketball spin twice on the rim before finally falling through the net, Dwight Howard couldn't help but spread his hands, looking at the baseline referee in frustration.
With the first half almost over, Dwight Howard had collected three fouls.
Van Gundy on the sideline could only console himself:
"This is his first season."
"Oh!"
As Lee made the free throw, cheers erupted again.
The first half ended with the score at 38:57.
With only 16 points scored in the second quarter, the Cavaliers' offense was in serious trouble.
Although LeBron James shot 3-of-6 from the field and 1-of-2 from the free-throw line for 7 points in the second quarter, his 0-for-4 shooting and zero points in the first quarter still impacted the Cavaliers' offense.
The New York Knicks' compacted Defense was simple and crude, but the opponent's 0-for-5 shooting from three-point range in the first half indicated that their Defense was effective.
A nearly 20-point lead did not cause the New York Knicks' Defense to relax.
After the second half began, LeBron James also tried to adjust his offense, no longer stubbornly relying on screens to relentlessly drive to the basket.
However, his shooting touch was truly terrible tonight, and his one-on-one isolations on the wing still resulted in misses.
On an offensive possession, Dwight Howard intended to come to the left wing to set a screen, but it instead allowed Kurt Thomas and Ron Artest to double-team LeBron James.
Forced to pick up his dribble in the right restricted area, fortunately, the referee blew the whistle, saving LeBron James from a turnover.
However, after the inbound pass, LeBron James again drove aggressively against Ron Artest's Defense, ultimately slowing down in the same spot.
With a quick behind-the-back dribble, LeBron James immediately pivoted on his right foot and turned towards the baseline after switching to his left hand, taking a drastic fading jump shot.
"Bang!"
The completely contorted shot again bounced off the rim.
Pau Gasol grabbed the rebound and immediately made a long pass.
LeBron James didn't have time to retreat on Defense this time and could only watch as Lee shook off Jeff McInnis, grabbed the ball in the frontcourt, and finished with a one-handed dunk.
Halfway through the third quarter, the Cavaliers had scored 8 points thanks to Zydrunas Ilgauskas's mid-range jump shots and Ira Newble's cuts for free throws.
Dwight Howard, who didn't get any easy dunk opportunities, was eventually subbed out by Van Gundy.
Drew Gooden, who came off the bench, did make an impact, hitting consecutive jump shots after popping out of screens.
The Cavaliers' defensive system began to collapse as Clay Lee made continuous drives.
Raja Bell and Ron Artest, in the left and right corners, easily hit open three-pointers.
Both teams began to trade blows, and the game returned to the New York Knicks' favorite rhythm.
Towards the end of the third quarter, watching Pau Gasol get easy dunks and score continuously with low-post moves, Van Gundy on the sideline began to signal to the cheerleaders.
The game was no longer in doubt.
Before the end of the third quarter, after a screen on the left wing, LeBron James, holding the ball in his left hand, accelerated his drive.
However, Ron Artest, who had dropped down, still didn't relax, chasing back in time and forcing LeBron James to miss a step-back jump shot in the restricted area again.
Watching the basketball fly over the rim and out of bounds, the laughter in the Madison Square Garden grew louder.
17:28 in the quarter.
The New York Knicks, with multiple players scoring, completely overwhelmed their opponent.
LeBron James, back on the bench, dejectedly took off his red headband.
3-of-14 from the field, 0-of-3 from three-point range, 3-of-4 from the free-throw line, for 9 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 3 turnovers.
LeBron James was naturally not satisfied with his statistics.
Dwight Howard, beside him, was equally upset, with 3-of-7 from the field and 1-of-4 from the free-throw line, only scoring 7 points tonight.
In contrast, Drew Gooden, who came off the bench, played with increasing vigor, and his shooting touch remained hot after the fourth quarter began!
Thinking that he only played 24 minutes, Dwight Howard couldn't help but mutter:
"Damn screens!"
LeBron James, however, felt he had learned something new.
It's not easy to execute screens well.
The New York Knicks' big men set solid screens, while Rookie Dwight Howard's screens were very poor.
LeBron James glanced at the "tool man" beside him and immediately comforted him:
"We should also run more pick-and-rolls. You know, Dwight, dunks are the most efficient way to score!"
The two covered their mouths and whispered to each other on the bench, unaffected by the loss.
As Dwight Howard said before the game, losing to the defending champions was nothing to be ashamed of.
Jeff Van Gundy's moral victory approach gave the Rookies hope for the future.
Failure is the mother of success, and the future surely belonged to them.
In the fourth quarter, led by Drew Gooden, Erik Snow, and Charlie Ward, the Cavaliers finally unleashed a fluid offense.
85:115. Derek Fisher also came out strong in the final quarter, helping the New York Knicks once again break the 110-point mark.
Back at home, Clay Lee's playing time tonight also reached a new season low.
He played 28 minutes, shooting 10-of-17 from the field, 4-of-7 from three-point range, and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line, for 30 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 1 steal.
After delivering an unremarkable stat line, Lee actively waved to the New York fans after the game.
To win the game, all we needed was to protect the paint.
The Cavaliers, if they want to contend for a championship, still need to strengthen their roster.
Dwight Howard had already adjusted his mood, and after the game, he was all smiles, embracing and greeting the New York Knicks players.
This Rookie top draft pick even extended an invitation, calling everyone to join him for some fun.
After greeting LeBron James, Lee returned to the players' tunnel.
Kurt Thomas, who was behind him, didn't quite understand Dwight Howard's mood and couldn't help but mutter in a low voice:
"What's wrong with that guy? He's so happy even after losing?"
Pau Gasol, who was following behind, had also played against Dwight Howard tonight.
He felt that this Rookie had good talent and joked in a low voice:
"After all, it's their first encounter. If he loses a few more times, he'll become the person we're familiar with."
Raja Bell heard their conversation and suddenly thought of Allen Iverson, who had lost so much, but he felt that Dwight Howard probably wouldn't be like Allen Iverson, as the young generation's basketball philosophy seemed to have changed.
On the 22nd, the New York Media unanimously praised Ron Artest's Defense, once again building momentum for the home team's player.
LeBron James, who had been named Player of the Week, was stopped by Ron Artest, a performance that made New York fans forget the previous "psychologist" topic.
Before Thanksgiving, the New York Knicks still had a game against the Atlanta Hawks, a weak team.
Taking this opportunity, the coaching staff simply gave them a break to relieve the fatigue caused by continuous road games.
Lee, back in Manhattan, also had many things to attend to recently.
Today happened to be Scarlett's birthday.
Although she hadn't reached the legal drinking age, at 20, she was considered a grown woman.
Due to an individual training session last night, Scarlett didn't wake up until nearly 11 AM.
Compared to when she was 18, there wasn't much change, except for a pair of fair, smooth breasts that were noticeably larger.
Sitting up, Scarlett slowly came to her senses, looking at the marks on her body and recalling the new knowledge from last night.
Humming a song, Scarlett took a shower. Wrapped in a towel, she went to the study and saw Lee still dealing with emails.
She immediately snuggled into his arms.
"That bitch Rachel still wants to attend my birthday party! I won't invite her, I've known about her little schemes for a long time!"
The young woman, sitting in Lee's arms, whispered about her experiences in Los Angeles, and then seemed to remember something else, giggling non-stop:
"She definitely won't like our little game!"
Manchester United was holding a shareholders' meeting after Thanksgiving.
After finishing all the emails, Lee, who had been teased by the young woman, finally shifted his attention.
Playing with her fair skin, Lee listened to the young woman's whispers, kissed her lightly, and then teased her:
"Your acting fee has already exceeded a million. A big star shouldn't bother with ordinary actors!"
The increase in acting fees was indeed worth celebrating, but Scarlett, having started as a child star, didn't lack resources and wasn't really interested in scripts that required her to take off her clothes.
After becoming an adult, she only received a high acting fee once, and because of this, she had a conflict with her mother.
Not caring about the bath towel falling off her body, the young woman, embracing Lee, began whispering secrets in his ear again.
Perhaps it was because it was her birthday, but she had become much bolder.
"By the window?"
Hearing Lee's rhetorical question, the young woman chuckled again, then stood up proactively, beckoning with her finger provocatively:
"Clay, what are you worried about?"
Although it was almost lunchtime, Lee decided to defeat his opponent first.
In a one-on-one, he had never lost!
For the birthday party that night, besides family members, Scarlett didn't invite anyone else.
The large house on 82nd Street was often not fully occupied, and for the young woman who frequently looked after the house, her family was more intimate.
Lee, who once again helped the young woman grow, was naturally in a good mood.
Occasional one-on-one skill training was also a good choice.
In contrast, Marbury, who came to New York, was in an exceptionally bad mood.
He joined the Atlanta Hawks with a pay cut during the off-season, hoping to lead this rebuilding team to rise, but after the new season began, their record stood at 2 wins and 7 losses.
The dismal record also prompted the Atlanta Hawks management to proactively shift the blame:
"Stephon Marbury and Antoine Walker have not taken on the responsibility of leadership."
"..."
This sentence could also be translated as the two were not in the team's plans, and they were both tradable assets.
Antoine Walker simply didn't care what the management said and continued to do as he pleased, just shooting!
On the evening of the 23rd, although the New York Knicks' performance fluctuated a bit, the Atlanta Hawks played even worse.
In the first quarter, Antoine Walker shot wildly, going 3-for-9, scoring 6 points!
17:28, led by this superficial brother, the New York Knicks unknowingly took a double-digit lead.
In the subsequent game, although the point difference widened, Josh Smith and Boris Diaw on the bench still didn't get much playing time.
With the lead extended at halftime, the New York Knicks actively increased the playing time of their rotation players in the second half.
Amar'e Stoudemire once again showed his dominance against weaker opponents, frequently delivering alley-oop dunks!
His body was fully activated, and even his mid-range shots became accurate.
Led by Clay Lee, and through pick-and-rolls, Amar'e Stoudemire scored 14 points in the 3rd quarter with extreme efficiency, going 5-for-7 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
24:36, after winning the 3rd quarter by another 12 points, the game was completely out of suspense.
Entering the 4th quarter, Derek Fisher also didn't stingy his passes.
Against Rookie Smith, Amar'e Stoudemire once again showcased his low-post skills.
Ultimately, 82:116, the Atlanta Hawks suffered another crushing defeat.
The former New York's Son had been completely abandoned by New York fans.
No one cared about the faded star, and Marbury left the players' tunnel early after the game.
In 29 minutes of play, Amar'e Stoudemire scored 31 points and 10 rebounds, going 13-for-18 from the field and 5-for-6 from the free-throw line.
Having achieved a career-high, Amar'e Stoudemire smiled brightly during his post-game interview, but he also didn't forget to promote himself:
"I've completely adapted to the NBA, and my knee feels great!"
"31 points is just the beginning. I can take on more responsibility!"
The last game before Thanksgiving, Madison Square Garden was exceptionally lively.
After the game, New York fans still didn't leave, starting to celebrate Clay Lee's Player of the Month award in advance.
The next two games were against the Toronto Raptors and the Atlanta Hawks, a particularly easy schedule.
Everyone was very satisfied with the 12-1 start to the new season.
On November 24th, with the holiday approaching, LeBron James's career total points reached 2000, breaking Clay Lee's record and becoming the youngest 2000-point scorer in NBA history.
The Detroit Pistons became the backdrop. Head Coach Larry Brown had set up a tight Defense in the paint, but LeBron James was red-hot that night:
15-for-22 from the field, 2-for-3 from three-point range, and 11-for-12 from the free-throw line, scoring a whopping 43 points!
76:92, the Cavaliers defeated the Detroit Pistons at home.
After the game, LeBron James, who had broken the record, was also a bit emotional.
He happily said in an interview:
"To me, this is an incredible achievement. Before this, Clay Lee had already set many records, and I never thought I could break them."
"Just as Head Coach Van Gundy said, I want to play like Clay Lee, lead the team like him, and Cleveland will definitely win a championship!"
"..."
On Thanksgiving, the 25th, basketball commentators also started to follow the trend and hotly debate whether LeBron James could surpass Clay Lee.
The New York Media naturally denied this topic outright, but other sports media still liked to discuss it, as the two indeed had a tiny bit of similarity.
Having grown accustomed to the holiday atmosphere in Manhattan, Lee, after finishing team activities in the morning this year, simply took the girls back to Peninsula Manor.
After the holiday, there was still Manchester United's shareholders' meeting, and Lee had no interest in paying attention to any scoring records.
After defeating the internally conflicted Toronto Raptors at home, on the 30th, the New York Knicks again decisively defeated the Atlanta Hawks on the road.
The continuous easy games completely stabilized Ron Artest's mood.
After the game against the Atlanta Hawks, upon returning to the hotel, Hill quietly reminded Lee:
"The medical team can confirm that Ron does indeed have some psychological issues."
There aren't many good people in the NBA.
Lee felt that as long as they continued to win, this was a minor issue:
"Don't worry, after so many years, as long as we keep winning, Ron's mood is very stable."
"As long as he doesn't miss training sessions without reason and trains diligently every day, that's enough!"
"..."
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)