On sunday, March 30, 2008, the Heat suffered a crushing 62-98 defeat to the Boston Celtics, essentially confirming Pat Riley's team would finish last in the league.
With a season likely to end with fewer than 20 wins, this absurd record prompted many commentators to criticize such an exaggerated tanking strategy, calling the spectacle truly unwatchable!
However, what embarrassed the Miami Heat players was that sometimes they wanted to win a game, but their strength simply didn't allow it.
Ever since teams in the Eastern Conference realized that 30+ wins might be enough to make the playoffs, some teams that had been tanking and losing to opponents began to exert themselves, with the Atlanta Hawks being a prime example.
They had been inconsistent throughout the season, and even after acquiring a core guard before the trade deadline, the Atlanta Hawks remained at the tail end of the playoff race.
But the teams behind them proved their expertise in tanking through their actions, making the middling records of teams like the Atlanta Hawks, 76ers, and Indiana Pacers even more awkward.
As March drew to a close, some fans discovered their home team actually had a chance to make the playoffs, and the calls for them grew louder, ultimately leading to the peculiar situation in the Eastern Conference.
In contrast, the competition in the Western Conference was so fierce that even 45+ wins weren't a guaranteed playoff spot!
Excluding the Los Angeles Clippers, Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Seattle SuperSonics, all other teams were striving, as tanking could no longer catch up to these four teams, making securing a playoff spot the better choice.
The outrageous competitive environment intensified game pressure, with minimal win differences between teams, meaning every victory could impact the standings.
Under these circumstances, to maintain home-court advantage, the Los Angeles Lakers had no choice but to push their starters, with Tim Duncan, who had previously rested against the San Antonio Spurs, seeing his playing time sharply increase, nearing 40 minutes.
That evening, the Los Angeles Lakers and Washington Wizards game went into overtime before a winner was decided.
With a better performance in overtime, the Los Angeles Lakers narrowly won 123-118, bringing their record to 48 wins and 26 losses, returning to the top spot in the Western Conference.
Inside Staples Center, all Los Angeles Lakers fans cheered wildly for this hard-won victory.
Although the Washington Wizards lost, their 35-38 record meant they were highly likely to make the playoffs, which also led to completely different attitudes from the players on both sides.
Nick Young, who played 31 minutes, shot 10-of-16 from the field, 3-of-4 from three-point range, and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, scoring a game-high 27 points, was still grinning after the loss, bumping fists with Los Angeles Lakers players.
Upon seeing Kobe, the Rookie even playfully teased him, shaking his hand with a smile, then turning to Gilbert Arenas on the other side, jokingly complaining:
"My boss said I played better than you tonight, but he's talking nonsense, you know, Bro, I have a lot of respect for you!"
Gilbert Arenas, who suffered an injury, was essentially out for the regular season after a second surgery, but he still traveled with the team for away games to show his solidarity with his teammates.
Kobe, too lazy to engage in such trivial provocations, patted his opponent and quickly left, as the April schedule also offered no room for relaxation.
He had to ensure home-court advantage for the playoffs in Los Angeles.
"Boo!"
Amidst the boos, Nick Young even had the presence of mind to wink at a girl in the front row as he exited the court.
He loved the competitive environment of the Eastern Conference, where he could make the playoffs just by playing casually.
Caron Butler, as a former teammate, always respected Kobe and glared disapprovingly at the Rookie, but Gilbert Arenas surprisingly spoke up for the Rookie:
"Good job tonight, Young! You should have mocked that arrogant guy more; he always thinks he's a big star!"
"Bring your new girl, I'm treating when we get back!"
Nick Young didn't know his boss had his eye on his girlfriend, but hearing about a free party, he immediately broke into a wide smile, wrapping his arm around Gilbert Arenas's shoulder and laughing heartily:
"Yeah, I love this life!"
Gilbert Arenas chuckled.
He could make the playoffs even by tanking, and once he recovered from his injury and put up decent numbers, the Washington Wizards would still offer him a contract.
Gilbert Arenas, once dedicated to training, was ultimately defeated by the cruel reality.
No matter how much he trained, he couldn't catch up to a talent like Clay Lee, and Eastern Conference lower-half teams were essentially free wins in the playoffs.
When effort couldn't bridge the gap, Gilbert Arenas chose to give up, and at the same time, he particularly looked down on those who still worked hard, and a pang of bitterness hit him when he thought the Los Angeles Lakers might emerge from the Western Conference:
"What a lucky guy."
At the post-game press conference, Kobe was his usual self.
His relationship with the media was poor, making it difficult for him to be pleasant to reporters.
When ESPN once again questioned his stats, Kobe, sitting on the stage, felt a surge of anger and couldn't help but retort again:
"I never play for stats. I don't care how many shots I take on the court or how many I make. All I care about is the score!"
"That Rookie played well, but we won, and that's the result I want."
Shooting 7-of-24 from the field, 0-of-2 from three-point range, and 12-of-15 from the free-throw line, Kobe Bryant delivered a double-double of 26 points, 4 rebounds, 13 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and 1 turnover, even though Duncan only played 24 minutes.
However, such a performance still failed to satisfy sports reporters.
They had grown accustomed to questioning inefficiency and would even label such players as "stat padders."
Tim Duncan, new to Los Angeles, was still adjusting to the atmosphere of press conferences.
In San Antonio, no one would ever be so confrontational with them.
"Tim, you left the game early in the third quarter. Are there any issues with your physical condition? Will this affect the rest of the schedule?"
The Los Angeles Times was more concerned about the health of the home team's players.
Their current record gave them hope for another championship, leading many to look at Duncan with anticipation.
"I just had some discomfort in my knee. Out of caution, the Head Coach didn't put me back in."
"..."
Some people nodded gravely.
By this point in the regular season, Los Angeles Lakers fans could no longer deceive themselves.
The New York Knicks had too many players, and the quality of their role players was unmatched by any other team.
Players who were late first-round or late second-round picks found a new vitality in New York.
Many basketball commentators found this strange phenomenon incomprehensible, but data analysts believed it was the effect of Lee's inherent system.
The Los Angeles Lakers also had some role players performing well this season.
That initially unfavored trade had a wonderful chemical reaction, with Trevor Ariza's form improving steadily!
Ignoring Kobe's grim expression, a Yahoo Sports reporter quickly asked another question of concern to fans:
"Kobe, the Los Angeles Lakers have been playing exceptionally well since February. It's rumored that some commentators support you for MVP. What are your thoughts on this?"
It was well-known that this year's award was already decided, and every player asked the same question would humbly state their position.
Paul and James both claimed they weren't good enough.
But Kobe hadn't said such things since the start of the season, and with the regular season nearing its end, reporters, eager for entertainment, brought up the old topic again, once more poking at his sensitive self-esteem:
"I don't think anyone in the league works harder than I do. Every day I'm fighting against injuries! You know the competitive environments in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference better than I do."
"As for MVP, I think I deserve this award. Report whatever you want, I am the best player in the league."
Being first in the Western Conference certainly qualified Kobe for consideration, but given the win differential between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks, he would most likely only receive some sympathy votes.
Regarding Kobe's confident statement, sports reporters showed various expressions.
Some revealed schadenfreude, others bowed their heads to hide smiles, occasionally glancing at the stern-faced Kobe.
This was a trap, but the special Mamba still jumped into it without hesitation, once again displaying his unparalleled confidence.
As they left the press conference, Duncan noticed Kobe still had a long face and, thinking of tomorrow's newspapers, finally said in a low voice to comfort him:
"No need to answer some meaningless questions. They don't understand basketball at all."
Some media personnel who couldn't even dribble a ball held the right to vote.
They probably rarely watched games, at most glancing at stat sheets and then imagining a player's performance.
Kobe was aware of this situation.
His agent, Rob Pelinka, had reminded him more than once to maintain good relations with reporters, but thinking of their mockery and skepticism towards him, he ultimately chose to resist:
"No, I want them to understand that I am the best player in the league!"
"..."
On the evening of April 4th, after defeating the Hornets in New Orleans, the New York Knicks finally concluded their four-game road trip of the week, putting an end to their recent 'airplane life'.
Ever since Howard started 'gobbling boards', Chandler's rebounding numbers also began to rise with the support of the entire team, making the competition for Rebounding King increasingly fierce.
Regarding the Scoring King trophy, although James increased his shot attempts, sometimes the basketball wouldn't cooperate, and his performance fluctuated, leaving him still a tiny bit behind Lee in statistics.
This situation was very unfavorable for James because Lee's attendance this season might be even lower than his.
If his statistical lead wasn't significant, the trophy would likely slip away.
Young men still care about their image, and with the regular season almost over, James didn't fully unleash himself, which made the Cleveland sports media quite anxious.
With a record of 3 wins and 1 loss, plus a back-to-back loss to the Timberwolves last week, the New York Knicks' current record stands at 66 wins and 10 losses, exactly 6 games ahead of the Boston Celtics.
Boarding the plane late at night, some players showed signs of fatigue.
Unlike Rookie players, after playing in the league for 5 years, one's passion for the game tends to wane.
Of course, some were still full of energy.
JR Smith had already mastered the essence of playing in New York, and his reputation had been steadily improving recently.
Not long ago, the New York Giants won the championship, and some revelers who participated in the victory parade even sang praises for him when they were high, which was enough to show his popularity in the city.
3-of-10 shooting, Jordan in highlight reels!
JR Smith was inconsistent, which was also why the New York Knicks sometimes suddenly lost games, falling behind after clanking shots, then suddenly turning it around.
Especially when facing a team that shoots many three-pointers, once the opponent finds their rhythm, a comeback would likely require the starters to go all out.
Of course, there was also a good side: if JR Smith had a hot hand on a certain night, then the game would become a nightmare for the opponent.
Facing his unreasonable shooting, it would be difficult to lose by even 30 points.
Pacing back and forth in the aisle, JR Smith was still energetic late into the night, occasionally leaning in to chat with teammates.
When he approached Chandler, he said with full confidence:
"I checked the stats! That Rookie is only ahead by 26 rebounds, Tyson, there are still 6 games left, you can definitely surpass him!"
Gasol, who had become a 'cardinal', was just exchanging rebounding experiences with Chandler.
Seeing his teammate approach, the Spanish big man couldn't help but tease:
"If you shot fewer three-pointers, perhaps Tyson could get more rebounds!"
Chandler's rebounding numbers surged after the All-Star Weekend, thanks to Lee's support.
As the New York Knicks' top three-point shooter, he actively changed some of his offensive methods, which successfully 'assisted' in rebounding.
JR Smith shook his head repeatedly upon hearing this.
The three-point attempts he gave up were all absorbed by him and Raja Bell.
Three-pointers were a great way to boost stats, so he naturally wouldn't give them up:
"I believe in Tyson, he'll definitely get the trophy."
"More and more teams are increasing their three-point attempts, damn long rebounds!"
Chandler also cursed with a smile at this point.
The Hornets had designed many three-point plays for Peja, and Chris Paul also shot threes off the dribble, making the last road game very frustrating for him.
He worked hard the entire game but only managed to grab 13 rebounds.
To catch up with Howard, he still had to keep working hard.
Rajon Rondo, covered by a blanket and wearing headphones, kept watching game footage.
He never participated in'stat-padding' discussions and was somewhat resistant to the New York Knicks' trend of chasing honors.
While trophies were good, Rajon Rondo firmly believed they should be earned through strength.
Noticing J.J. Barea next to him'smirking' at his phone, he couldn't help but turn his head and glance over:
"Shit! Where did you find that girl?"
J.J. Barea was holding the first-generation iPhone.
After it came out last year, Lee got one, and then everyone else followed suit.
Not minding sharing the 'milk pics' on his phone, J.J. Barea shrugged, pointed to his laptop, then shook his phone, sharing his experience:
"You should learn to enjoy life. In New York, you can find beautiful girls from all over the world. As long as you spend a little money and chat with them, you can gain friendship."
"You should be thinking about how to get into a stable rotation!"
Upon hearing Rajon Rondo's buzzkill comment, J.J. Barea pouted and muttered to himself, "I'd be stable if you left," then stopped bothering his insensitive teammate.
The New York Knicks always traveled by charter plane, and supper was also prepared onboard.
Lee sat near the coaching staff.
Although D'Antoni was older, his energy was better than that of his peers.
Noticing Ron Artest fell asleep exhausted after boarding the plane, D'Antoni sighed inwardly and said with some regret:
"Ron's physical condition has become a big problem this year. The medical team believes that conservative treatment is becoming less effective, and he is likely to continue to decline in the future."
The decline referred to the difficulty of returning to his DPOY-level Defense, transforming from an elite defender to an ordinary wing defender.
Lee said nothing about this.
It wasn't something that hard training could make up for:
"Compensate for Defense with offense. This season, all teams in the league are seeing an increase in possessions, which is a good thing for us."
When the number of possessions for two teams exceeded 85, the New York Knicks had never lost this season.
Compared to the past, their defensive intensity was declining and no longer significantly ahead of all other teams.
Perhaps worried about the Boston Celtics, Mike D'Antoni shared some data with Lee and quietly reminded him:
"The opponent has thoroughly studied us. The Boston Celtics' possessions in most games are around 75. They've realized the problem."
While the Head Coach could delegate, the coaching staff never relaxed their study of each team.
Data, in most cases, accurately reflected what happened on the court.
Boston seemed to 'completely counter' New York.
Lee, looking through the data, saw the highlighted points.
The data indicated that the Boston Celtics' defensive intensity was increasing, and their recent games were all about 'brick-laying':
"Regular season data, don't worry, Coach! They lack championship experience."
D'Antoni couldn't help but chuckle.
New York newspapers had recently been mocking the Boston Celtics' championships, and the view that "ancient basketball is not worth praising" had thoroughly angered the legends from across the way.
Thinking of the war of words in the newspapers, Mike D'Antoni couldn't help but anticipate with schadenfreude:
"I can't imagine what will happen when they lose this year!"
Lee pulled his blanket over, smiled, and said nothing.
In fact, the same applied to the New York Knicks.
Once they lost and faced a boomerang effect, New York reporters would definitely turn on their own.
With the regular season winding down, and as time passed, the competition in the Western Conference became increasingly fierce, with playoff-contending teams making their final push.
The New York Knicks had already entered preparation mode.
Upon returning to New York, the new week was another four-game week.
After easily defeating the Bobcats in a back-to-back on Wednesday the 9th, they finally secured the league's top spot.
Starting Friday, the team began large-scale rotations.
Only Chandler remained in the starting lineup, and the playing time for rotation players increased.
On Monday the 14th, the Boston Celtics had their last regular-season encounter with the New York Knicks.
Unfortunately, there was no 'clash of titans'.
Both teams' starting lineups rested during the game.
With the help of undercover agent JR Smith, Boston fans finally got a victory.
"Oh!!"
96:110. The Boston Celtics fans at the TD Garden celebrated joyfully. Head Coach Rivers immediately went to the scorer's table after the game to shake hands with D'Antoni.
The two exchanged pleasantries, but Rivers was somewhat smug after the win.
After withdrawing his hand, he couldn't help but tilt his head and whisper:
"We'll continue to sag off him. How long will Lee play?"
D'Antoni showed a surprised expression, looking as if to say, "What are you talking about?"
Mike D'Antoni, of course, knew the other person was talking about sagging off Rajon Rondo, and he didn't care about that:
"Perhaps you should worry about the Cavaliers. Rich game experience sometimes can't overcome absolute talent."
D'Antoni responded with a chuckle, then finally patted Rivers on the back before slowly walking away.
To show his tough stance, Garnett always refused to exchange pleasantries with Lee after games.
The tough guy, with his lips pursed, entered the player tunnel early.
Hearing the shouts from fans on both sides, he couldn't help but thump his chest and yell:
"Championship, are you ready?!"
"Ah!!!"
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)