Every year, March Madness attracts a lot of attention, and this year, the talented guard Derrick Rose from Chicago became the focus of media attention.
This time, no one was shouting "the next Clay Lee."
Although Derrick Rose possessed the technical style of a modern guard, his shooting was visibly inconsistent.
After nearly 10 years of exploration, scouts have confirmed that Lee's shooting talent is extraordinary.
It's hard to find a similar player with such a God-given shooting touch.
After scratching lottery tickets for so many years, there are more and more "bankrupt versions of Lee," and fans are tired of hearing it.
This is just like the "Jordan successors" of the past—all beautiful wishes.
Another rookie, Kevin Durant's childhood friend, the super scorer Michael Beasley, was also very popular.
The Heat, who are currently aiming for the first overall pick, are targeting these two.
After Wade suffered another injury, Head Coach Pat Riley simply started preparing for next season early.
The remaining regular season games were no longer important to them.
On Wednesday, March 12th, the Heat visited New York again.
Without Wade, the game immediately turned into a one-sided affair.
Wade, sitting on the bench, looked calm in a black suit.
He showed no reaction as his teammates kept missing shots, as the coaching staff had already informed him of the team's plan.
The camera rarely focused on him, and Wade felt a pang of sadness.
He had become outdated too quickly.
His rookie season had surprisingly been his peak.
Now, he was about to experience the taste of fishing again.
10 wins and 52 losses—that was the Heat's current record.
Wade had wanted to win a trophy at the All-Star Game, but out of concern for his image, he ultimately didn't say it.
Coming away empty-handed was the epitome of Wade's season.
The departure of his elder brother and frequent injuries caused many fans to forget him, and even New York fans were exceptionally friendly to their old rival tonight.
At the end of the first quarter, Madison Square Garden was in an uproar.
Wade, sitting on the bench, did not stand up but instead stared at the floor, knowing he still had to watch such games for another month.
When Marion returned to his seat after putting on his practice uniform, he saw Wade's dejected look and immediately tilted his head, self-deprecatingly saying:
"I feel like I'm back in my rookie season. Ten wins! It's hard to imagine joining a team and it turning out like this."
Behind the bench, New York fans had already begun celebrating the victory.
With a score of 21:37, the New York Knicks were helping their old rival contend for the first overall pick.
The game had to continue.
After coming to his senses, Wade remained silent for a long time.
Looking at the vibrant New York Knicks' rotation, he finally managed to say sourly after a long pause:
"The coach is right. We need to accumulate talent. This is the team's decision."
Leaning on his knees, with his hands propping up his chin, Marion glanced at the young core again.
He pulled at the corner of his mouth and said no more, realizing that Wade was overly respectful of Pat Riley, and the team atmosphere felt a bit strange.
The oily-haired big shot, hanging around courtside, seemed unaffected by the team's record, still fully immersed in the game, as if only winning 10 games posed no problem for him:
"Jason, run that same play again!"
Pat Riley yelled at the top of his lungs.
As the game entered the rotation, many New York fans couldn't even name the opposing players.
Such bottom-feeders weren't worth noting.
On the other side, D'Antoni was also pacing the sidelines.
After losing back-to-back games to the Detroit Pistons last week, the Boston Celtics also lost, and both teams slowed their pace in unison.
Since playing against the Charlotte Hornets, Rajon Rondo has been even more eager to show off, having mastered the trick of "stat-padding" when holding a large lead.
"Let's go Knicks!"
Amidst the shouts echoing through the Madison Square Garden, seizing the opportunity as the opponent's focus dropped, Rajon Rondo stopped at the top of the arc.
While Diaw screened for JR Smith, he suddenly delivered a bounce pass.
From the left 45-degree angle, JR Smith suddenly accelerated with a back cut, driving straight to the basket.
Shaking off his defender, he caught the ball near the restricted area, took one dribble, and immediately took flight.
Amidst the cheers of the fans, the big man Mark Blount, who came over for help Defense, had just extended his hand, but JR Smith in mid-air quickly rotated his body.
After a 360-degree spin, he arrived at the lower left side of the rim.
Before landing, JR Smith twisted his left wrist, smoothly tossing the ball off the backboard.
As the basketball banked in, Madison Square Garden erupted once again.
"God! What a spectacular shot! After the All-Star Weekend, JR Smith's form has been getting better and better."
"If he could play a few more games, I think he would win the Sixth Man of the Year award this season!"
From the MSG commentary booth, Mike Breen excitedly commented.
Some teams' games were boring, but the New York Knicks always managed to create excitement.
Role players would occasionally explode, which was rare in the league.
"In terms of roster depth, I don't think any team currently can compare with us. I respect the Heat, but their talent is not enough to support a championship run right now."
"Clay Lee can make his teammates better and better. Although Dwayne Wade also has good passing ability, rebuilding a team around him is absolutely not a simple task."
Walt Frazier was practically saying outright that "the Heat have withdrawn from championship contention."
For nearly 12 years, Eastern Conference teams have been rebuilding over and over again, and only the New York Knicks have consistently maintained competitiveness.
Their old rival was once again in decline, and it was unknown how many years it would take for them to make a comeback.
Watching Jason Williams jump to throw a pass and get it stolen on the Heat's side, Mike Breen could only lament:
"This year's draft is very crucial for the Heat. I wish our old rival well, and I hope to see them again in the Conference Finals in the future."
"."
Pat Riley seemed not to hear the fans' jeers.
After the offensive turnover, he smiled and proactively comforted his players.
No one knew what this outdated Champion Coach was thinking.
His reputation had been declining ever since he traded Stan Van Gundy.
If he hadn't led the New York Knicks to the NBA Finals, the New York Media would have already launched a full-blown attack.
Currently, Pat Riley's Champion Coach prestige was almost gone.
This game once again became a carnival for the New York Knicks' role players.
Everyone who stepped onto the court managed to score, with all 12 players getting points.
Even the referees were too lazy to call fouls.
84:128. When the game ended, Wade on the bench covered his face again.
He truly lost so much this year.
Lee only played 26 minutes tonight, and his stats declined against a weak team.
Commentators were used to it.
Some columnists could even guess Lee's stats based on the score.
"Slacking off" had become the norm.
Waving his towel 8 times, leading the hype squad in cheers multiple times, finishing half a bucket of popcorn, and also eating the loving orange prepared for him by his little attendant.
This was the true portrayal of some of Lee's games: exercising on the court, watching the game from a VIP seat, taking photos after the game, casually trash-talking opponents, and finally answering questions at the press conference.
"Oh!!"
Seeing Wade move next to Lee, the New York fans in the arena started to jeer.
The "fake fan" had long lost their competitive spirit and had become more smooth after being beaten down for several years:
"Congratulations in advance, Lee! The MVP is no suspense. I feel sorry for Paul."
Wade, stepping forward to fist-bump, forced a smile and offered compliments.
Lee, who had already changed into his practice uniform, looked relaxed.
Noticing the other party's strained smile, he teased again:
"He's still young, man. At 26, the next few years might be when you're in your best physical condition. If you want to pursue honor, you have to be ready!"
Wade had obviously watched ESPN, where they had recently been harping on about the ages at which famous players won championships, with a large portion being around 28 years old.
However, thinking of his own physical condition and the current team situation, Wade felt a bit down.
Coupled with the breakdown of his relationship with his childhood sweetheart wife, the troubling matters made him feel extremely exhausted:
"I know, maybe next season we can return to the playoffs."
Wade reluctantly agreed, then lost interest in further conversation.
He still believed Pat Riley's promise that the oily-haired big shot would recruit help for him, and he could lead the team to the Heat's first championship.
Ron Artest did not play tonight due to injury.
He pulled his calf last week.
This season, his body seemed to show signs of decline.
His undisciplined lifestyle finally took its toll on his body.
Ron Artest had no good solution for this.
Professional players cannot stay at their peak forever.
Marion, preparing to leave, noticed Ron Artest's forced smile and proactively went up to greet him, his bad mood improving somewhat:
"What's up! Bro!"
"Shit! You're just going to keep losing in Miami!"
Seeing the other party's teasing smile, Ron Artest immediately retorted.
He had been a substitute too many times this season and almost became a trade chip for Marion, which made him lose a lot of face.
Marion didn't mind Artest's big mouth.
He laughed and argued with him for a couple of sentences, then looked in Lee's direction, and finally gazed up at the championship banners hanging above for a moment before slowly walking away.
At the entrance to the tunnel, Alonzo Mourning continuously high-fived his teammates.
The veteran's face didn't show much emotion.
After injuring his knee before Christmas, he knew his career was completely over.
The friendly New York fans were still loudly calling his name at this time.
Mourning could only force a smile in response.
Only when everyone had entered the player tunnel did he walk dejectedly towards the locker room.
Pat Riley, at the very back, looked at the Kidney Fighter's retreating figure, a surge of guilt welling up within him.
Just as he was about to enter the locker room, he suddenly whispered:
"Sorry, Zo! Injuries ruined our last hope."
Thinking of his good friend Ewing, who would be gloriously inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, Mourning glanced around the old arena facilities, patted the Champion Coach on the shoulder, and said with some regret:
"I don't regret my decision these past few years. I'm willing to play for the Heat, Boss. This isn't your fault. Perhaps this is God's will!"
"…"
Recalling Ewing's experience, Pat Riley was speechless for a moment.
The Gorilla nearly ended his career without a championship, and no one expected him to make a comeback and become a big winner in the end.
All of this was due to Lee's influence.
From 1996 onwards, this league changed.
Pat Riley, who had returned to the locker room, was somewhat lost in thought.
When he snapped out of his memories, he regained his confident demeanor:
"We played very well. We need to be just as focused on the upcoming road games!"
On Thursday, March 13, the New York Knicks, with two games a week, entered another holiday period.
As long as they could ensure home-court advantage, the coaching staff focused more on player health.
The Boston Celtics were no different.
Head Coach Rivers had already started resting players.
The two teams would face each other again next week, but the past Coach of the Year (COY) was no longer making grand pronouncements.
Even before the game, there were signs of the Boston Celtics backing down, which greatly displeased the sports commentators!
There weren't many games on Thursdays.
The TNT program summarized the game briefly afterward, praising the performances of James and Howard, and criticizing Kidd's shooting since joining the Dallas Mavericks.
When the conversation turned to next week's highly anticipated game, Charles Barkley immediately expressed his dissatisfaction, and also praised Chris Paul's competitive spirit:
"Look at the competitive spirit Paul showed after consecutive road games. The Boston Celtics shouldn't make excuses for themselves in advance. They're not too old to play four games in a week!"
84:126, MVP direct confrontation.
Chris Paul did indeed play actively, but unfortunately, he was completely dominated throughout the game.
Kenny Smith really didn't want to comment on that game anymore.
Clay Lee delivered a stat line of 46 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, and 1 turnover, shooting 15 of 21 from the field, 4 of 7 from three-point range, and 12 of 12 from the free-throw line.
"Perhaps Garnett's abdominal strain hasn't fully recovered. They are already several wins ahead of the third-place Cavaliers, so they do need to prioritize health in the upcoming games."
Hearing his partner make an excuse for the Boston Celtics, Charles Barkley wanted to retort, but Ernie Johnson quickly took over the conversation, stopping the big mouth from spouting nonsense:
"Stephon Marbury suffered an ankle injury. I think that's why Head Coach Rivers has recently started expanding his rotation."
"Sam Cassell might need to get back into game shape. He also suffered a strain with the Los Angeles Clippers. Veterans need time to adjust their bodies too."
Free agent PJ Brown ultimately joined the Los Angeles Lakers, while Sam Cassell accepted Garnett's invitation, preparing to help his old friend out again and continue playing old man basketball to the end.
With both of his partners defending the Boston Celtics, Charles Barkley could only stop his criticisms.
After thinking for a moment, he then started criticizing LeBron James:
"Young people nowadays pay too much attention to stats. I don't like LeBron's recent actions. He only scored 23 points in the loss to the New York Knicks, but his shot attempts have been increasing in the subsequent games."
"I know what he's thinking—the scoring title! But I want to tell him, don't play for trophies. Basketball shouldn't be like that!"
Through continuous learning, James has completely embraced the 'Moreyball' philosophy this season.
With Howard's improved screen quality, he has completely abandoned long two-pointers, with most of his shots concentrated in the paint and beyond the three-point line.
Combined with the Cavaliers' defensive system, James's fast breaks are as fierce as a tiger, and like Lee, he frequently appears in Sports Center's top plays.
As the season progressed, continuous back-to-back games and matchups against weaker teams caused Lee's stats to steadily decline, while James's numbers once again climbed.
Attempting 30 shots has occurred multiple times, and LeBron James has essentially just been letting it fly in some games, while also assisting Howard with rebounds.
The two young players are having a blast stat-padding.
With a helpless smile on his face, Kenny Smith also knew James was stat-padding, but that's how scoring titles are.
Long ago, everyone openly padded stats, so at this point, he could only say tactfully:
"I don't think shooting more is a mistake. Clearly, James is taking on more responsibility."
"Lee called him the 'Akron Mamba' a long time ago. I think he saw James's potential back then. As for the scoring title, I think fans don't mind seeing the competition between the two."
Since the birth of the Black Mamba Vince Carter, many players have taken a large number of shots in some games to showcase their abilities.
Ernie Johnson also found it difficult to comment on this trend, as Lee had led the praise for it.
However, thinking of the uninhibited James, he finally added:
"Perhaps this is Head Coach Van Gundy's arrangement. The Cavaliers have already entered playoff mode early!"
"…"
On Friday, March 14, the Boston Celtics rested at home and ultimately lost to the Utah Jazz, widening the gap in wins with the New York Knicks once again.
After the game, Head Coach Rivers, who attended the press conference, confirmed that both Garnett and Stephon Marbury would miss sunday's game against the New York Knicks:
"Kevin wants to get back on the court as soon as possible. His energy infects the team, but I must be responsible for his health."
"We don't care about the regular season results. Although we might lose home-court advantage, the team's veterans can solve these problems. They don't mind playing at Madison Square Garden."
His voice was low and hoarse, but when he spoke these words, Rivers appeared exceptionally confident, not putting the formidable home court in his eyes.
He even joked at the end:
"Clay Lee should be worried about his performance at the TD Garden Arena. This city has accumulated years of energy, and it will be completely unleashed this year!"
"Our fans will be the team's best sixth man. This is the essence of a Champion Coach!"
This rhetoric was clearly a diversion, and it also showed a strange sense of superiority.
The New York sports reporters were furious, but the Boston Celtics' press spokesperson didn't give them a chance.
In a game that concluded simultaneously that evening, 100:104, the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers at home, bringing the two teams back to an even standing.
Kurt Thomas's experience in defending Duncan was very rich, and this veteran once again helped the team secure a crucial victory.
Shooting 9 of 19 from the field, 2 of 5 from three-point range, and 7 of 12 from the free-throw line, Chris Paul, who delivered a double-double of 27 points, 4 rebounds, 17 assists, 4 steals, and 2 turnovers, spoke about his performance in New York during the press conference:
"I attended Lee's training camp when I was very young, and most of my basketball skills now were taught to me by Clay Lee."
"Perhaps this was the first time he seriously guarded me. It's hard to describe that feeling. It was a sense of pressure that prevented me from calmly showcasing my abilities."
Upon hearing this answer, ESPN quickly fanned the flames by adding another question, once again pointing the finger at Kobe:
"Talk about guarding Kobe. How is that different from Lee? Your performance tonight was excellent, 17 assists!"
Although Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 36 points on 10 of 23 shooting, the sports reporters present still wanted to give some trouble to the special Mamba who didn't respect them.
"Kobe is also excellent, but he's not a point guard. Lee is faster, more agile, and he can shoot at any time, which put immense defensive pressure on me."
"It's hard to compare the two. Lee is on another level. It's a perfect combination of skill and physicality!"
Chris Paul's praise was very natural, clearly not taking Kobe Bryant seriously.
With both teams having the same record and the senior Tim Duncan on the opposing side, he had lost some respect for the championship guard as well.
Many people in the audience chuckled.
If the Boston Celtics rested players later, this news would be even more attention-grabbing.
On sunday, March 16, the third matchup between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics attracted a great deal of attention.
However, after the starting lineups were announced, a large number of sports reporters cursed under their breath.
Boston had indeed surrendered early!
Even Ray Allen wasn't on the active roster.
Only Pierce remained of the "The Big Four," which left ABC, the broadcasting network, speechless.
At the TD Garden, when the lineup of Sam Cassell, Tony Allen, Pierce, Brian Scalabrine, and Kendrick Perkins took the court, Hubie Brown in the commentary box helplessly complained:
"It seems the Boston Celtics are experiencing an injury wave. This is not good news for them, as the regular season is ending soon."
"…"
The old coach's complaints didn't affect the Boston fans' mood.
Just as Rivers said, this city had accumulated years of energy, and it all erupted this year!
Amidst the fans' boos, the first half of the game quickly ended, 65:35.
Against the old men and the short players, Clay Lee once again struck hard.
Tonight's game had a high broadcast standard, with reporters interviewing at halftime.
As he was about to enter the player tunnel, the boos in Lee's ears grew louder.
"Clay, congratulations on your team's big lead at halftime! The TD Garden tonight seems very different from the past. Has this affected you?"
The young reporter was clearly asking a routine question, and the yelling behind him made him uncomfortable, but Lee chuckled and joked:
"Compared to the atmosphere at the United Center back then, there's still some gap here. You know, the Boston Celtics haven't won a championship in many years."
"…"
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By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)