On Monday, April 21, 2008, the NBA announced this season's Sixth Man of the Year (SMOY) award:
Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs received over 50% of the votes and successfully won the award.
For San Antonio Spurs fans, a small award couldn't heal their emotional wounds, especially after watching last night's game, which led more fans to join the "jersey burning" activity.
The "grudge match," broadcast by ESPN, garnered significant attention. Due to Andrew Bynum's injury, Kwame Brown ultimately started the game.
The game's outcome surprised many.
People predicted the San Antonio Spurs would lose, but they certainly didn't expect them to lose by such a large margin!
92:114. This highly anticipated game concluded with the Los Angeles Lakers' dominant victory over their opponent.
The San Antonio Spurs were completely suppressed, and Head Coach Popovich even refused to be interviewed after the game.
It's difficult to precisely describe the San Antonio Spurs' strength without Tim Duncan.
They might maintain their record through excellent tactical execution, but in the playoffs, where talent is paramount, they appear extremely weak.
Partnering Duncan in the Los Angeles Lakers' paint was Radmanovic, whose decent shooting completely opened up the offensive space.
Phil Jackson didn't rigidly adhere to the Triangle Offense.
More possessions still involved pick-and-rolls. Basketball commentators easily noticed that many tactical plays bore the New York Knicks' influence.
The changes in modern basketball are subtle.
The sight of players congregating in the paint is becoming increasingly rare.
A pure big man like Yao Ming is no longer suitable for the current NBA.
To put it more accurately, Yao Ming would become a defensive liability.
When facing a core guard like Lee, he would be a cash machine after a mismatch.
Fortunately, few small guards currently reach Lee's level, but this trend is sweeping the NBA.
Perhaps big men will still be drafted early, but teams are also willing to use early picks to take a chance on small guards.
Ginobili, who received his award and answered reporters' questions at the hotel that morning, felt conflicted.
Even now, he couldn't get used to Duncan wearing a Los Angeles Lakers jersey:
"That's Tim's influence. I've always thought he was underestimated!"
"Although I don't like him wearing a Los Angeles Lakers jersey, in last night's game, the opponent was indeed the better team."
Playing 36 minutes, shooting 10-for-16 from the field, 5-for-8 from the free-throw line, Tim Duncan's stat line of 25 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, and 3 turnovers might seem ordinary, but the content of his game was very rich.
Most sports reporters were somewhat dissatisfied with Ginobili's comments.
They actually wanted to hear some complaints, preferably about the two having a falling out:
"Manu, do you think the Los Angeles Lakers have a chance to return to the NBA Finals this year? If Tim Duncan returns to the NBA Finals stage, will you show your support?"
The ESPN reporter's questions were more pointed.
Everyone actually wanted to interview Popovich, but the old man had been hospitalized after his emotions fluctuated too much in New York last time, so it wasn't good to stir things up again.
Ginobili gave a definitive answer in his heart regarding whether the Los Angeles Lakers could return to the NBA Finals, and a helpless smile appeared on his face:
"I have to admit, they have a great chance. Tim is too outstanding. He can bring energy to the team on both ends of the court. His arrival has transformed the Los Angeles Lakers!"
"However, the San Antonio Spurs won't give up. We understand him and will make targeted adjustments soon."
Playing 40 minutes, shooting 9-for-22 from the field, 1-for-3 from three-point range, 8-for-10 from the free-throw line, Kobe's performance of 27 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and 3 turnovers was also excellent.
Reporters who understood the Los Angeles Lakers' core player statistics didn't refute.
After watching all four Western Conference matchups, the Los Angeles Lakers performed the best, with balanced offense and Defense, already showing "championship potential."
Considering the San Antonio Spurs' predicament, reporters no longer made things difficult for him.
When Ginobili left with the trophy, a San Antonio Express-News staff member couldn't help but complain to a colleague:
"I've said it before, the team should pay some luxury tax appropriately, instead of just filling the salary cap every year!"
"No one criticized this in the past, but we all know that a championship costs a lot of money."
Authors who write columns usually speak well of the team, as the local newspaper's audience is still local fans, and no one likes to hear bad news.
This also labeled Tim Duncan as "selfless."
The main reason San Antonio Spurs fans burned jerseys after this trade was the collapse of his image.
Tim Duncan also played for money, he also liked big cities, and he also disliked the existing team roster structure.
All those past praises turned into jokes.
Pure basketball, "master-disciple bond," "brotherhood"—all were fake.
Duncan was no different from other ordinary stars in the NBA.
The public opinion environment is shaped by the media.
Hearing a colleague's complaints, no one spoke.
This was all their doing.
They had depicted Duncan too perfectly.
After the Los Angeles Lakers completed their routine training at the Toyota Training Center in the afternoon, sports reporters found Duncan, as his former teammate had won an award.
Everyone wanted to hear the former core's thoughts.
After clearing out the internal mole, the Los Angeles Lakers' team atmosphere visibly improved.
With the momentum of victory, everyone had hope.
Duncan, wearing a gray sleeveless Los Angeles Lakers training shirt, still had sweat on his face.
Compared to his time with the San Antonio Spurs, his hair was a bit longer, and his beard was more neatly trimmed.
Life in Los Angeles still affected the big man.
Since coming to this city, Duncan's exposure had skyrocketed, and he had to pay attention to his image in front of the cameras.
Duncan used to think Lee's preference for wearing formal attire was pretentious, but now he somewhat understood.
Such a choice was often more about avoiding hassle.
No need to consider matching, better photo results, and the media would have little to criticize.
Yahoo Sports had been tracking Duncan's news.
Their situation in New York wasn't great.
The New York Times and MSG's news was the most accurate.
In this situation, for the first round of this year's playoffs, Yahoo Sports focused more on Los Angeles.
They were right.
Fans were all discussing what "Duncan coming home" would entail.
"Tim, will you recruit Ginobili in the future? Do you two have a chance to collaborate again in Los Angeles?"
Upon hearing this question, Duncan seemed lost in thought.
Sometimes he would miss his old teammates.
The San Antonio Spurs' locker room atmosphere was excellent, often like "family":
"I won't consider that, but Manu won the Sixth Man of the Year award, and I don't think any team would refuse him."
"Congratulations to him on the award. He made a great sacrifice for the team. We all know it's sometimes hard for a player coming off the bench to find their rhythm, and he's even better than you imagine."
Duncan's expression was serious as he praised his former teammate.
Occasionally, he made eye contact with reporters, but he didn't playfully raise his eyebrows as before.
He seemed to be in a strange state.
Kobe, standing nearby, was ignored.
Sports reporters were more interested in Duncan's gossip.
Perhaps only when they faced the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Finals would he become the protagonist; his old partner was waiting for him.
Fisher had recently been recruiting his old teammate Matt Barnes.
Since issues arose with the Warriors' contract extension with Baron Davis, the locker room atmosphere had been affected.
With his old friend in trouble, Fisher naturally wanted to help.
After all, the Los Angeles Lakers were now a championship contender, so wouldn't it be better to play in Los Angeles!
"If there's a chance, I plan to recruit Rasheed Wallace. What do you think?"
Suddenly hearing Kobe's words, Old Fish was startled, but he had also seen the news: the victorious Detroit Pistons seemed to be falling apart, and Head Coach Saunders hadn't gained the players' trust.
"Maybe he'll choose New York. You know, he's mentioned it before."
Fisher stopped tying his shoelaces, sat up straight, thought for a moment, and then added:
"But Lee doesn't like working with veterans. We have a chance, provided Wallace doesn't want to stay with the Detroit Pistons."
Kobe nodded slightly.
His first reaction after seeing the news was to recruit him.
He no longer cared about criticisms of "teaming up".
Now he wanted to win more championships!
Odom, who performed well in the first game, didn't interact much with Kobe.
The team had used him as a trade chip more than once, and Kobe hadn't refuted it, which still hurt him.
"Do you think we can succeed?"
Ariza, who had returned to the locker room, couldn't help but look surprised at Odom's question.
He had spent more time playing in the Development League in the past, and he was already satisfied with his current treatment:
"I don't know. When I was with the Orlando Magic, Lewis told me that Lee had the ability to score 40 points per game."
"Maybe Kobe can do it too. We have a chance."
Odom shrugged and said no more.
His new teammate had clearly also received "championship experience," but thinking of Kobe's ability, he couldn't help but mutter to himself:
"40 points? Maybe he'd have to shoot 50 times."
The joy of beating weaker teams was something Boston Celtics fans rarely experienced in the past, because they were the "weaker team."
Every year during the playoffs, fans could only watch the celebrations next door, and when they saw news reports of a 40+ point victory, they would sourly remark:
"The New York Knicks ruined the Eastern Conference!"
However, this year the situation was completely different; 81:117.
After the New York Knicks secured the win in the first quarter last night, they easily defeated the 76ers. B
Boston fans no longer need to envy their neighbors.
They also achieved it!
80:113. The The Big Four' playoff debut, finishing in three quarters, a 33-point rout of their opponent.
Long-lost joy swept through Boston.
Stephon Marbury performed exceptionally well against his old team, shooting 6 of 10 from the field, 2 of 6 from three-point range, and 4 of 6 from the free-throw line, tallying 18 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 3 turnovers.
He completely suppressed Mike Bibby on the opposing side throughout the game, limiting him to just 7 points on 3 of 10 shooting.
Ray Allen contributed 18 points, Garnett scored 20 points, and Pierce also had 16 points.
None of the The Big Four took excessive shots, but their consistent scoring left the Atlanta Hawks helpless.
Since Game 2 was scheduled for the day after tomorrow, the Boston Celtics' training focused on recovery, which made it difficult for many players to vent their excitement.
The long-awaited victory made Marbury a bit giddy.
He had almost forgotten what it felt like to win in the playoffs.
Last night's game completely invigorated him, and now he felt full of energy.
Not enough boasting last night, after training, Marbury, surrounded by Boston sports reporters, flashed a brilliant smile and boasted again:
"Where are all those who criticized us? Seeing the Boston Celtics' dominance, they have nothing to say now."
"This is basketball! If they think it's unfair, they can also join a championship contender."
"But not every team is like the Boston Celtics. We have a unique winning culture, and the championship banners hanging in the TD Garden inspire everyone."
"..."
Speaking of the team's history, the Boston sports reporters immediately felt a sense of ease.
They were not nouveau riche like their neighbors.
The Boston Celtics had the most championship banners in the NBA!
A resounding victory brought immense confidence to the team.
Pierce even forgot about the 'teaming up' dilemma and didn't even care that Garnett had taken his leadership position.
His spirits were exceptionally high:
"Lyonell, keep up this performance. As long as you guys can score 20 points off the bench, we won't have to worry about losing at all!"
In the locker room, Pierce patted his younger teammate with his head held high, looking exceptionally confident.
Hearing the former leader's advice, Lyonell Powel showed a shy smile on his dark face and nodded vigorously to show understanding.
After going around and speaking a few words to everyone, Pierce adopted a leadership demeanor again.
Garnett didn't mind this and even joined in to encourage their teammates.
Winning against the Atlanta Hawks did not make Ray Allen happy.
The vast difference in regular season records between the two teams was enough to explain the issue.
"Ray, what are you worried about? I feel pretty good."
Sam Cassell was Ray Allen's old teammate.
Although they had conflicts before, with the passage of time, they eventually let go of everything.
After coming to the new team, the veteran naturally preferred to spend time with old friends, which significantly improved their relationship.
Hearing the question, Ray Allen looked at the two loudly shouting and boasting, shook his head slightly, thought for a moment, and finally voiced his concerns:
"A 10-man rotation, Head Coach seems a bit careless. We should be more cautious, at least wait until the end of the third quarter before making large-scale substitutions."
The overconfident Head Coach Rivers also put on a show, mimicking D'Antoni's five-in, five-out substitutions in certain games.
Boston media praised this, but Ray Allen felt something was off.
"You're right, I'll talk to Head Coach! This is the first time I've found Boston's home court so terrifying, the fans are too enthusiastic."
Seeing Sam Cassell also fall into an inexplicable state of excitement, Ray Allen smiled and simply replied, but began to worry in his heart:
"Hope the game ends smoothly."
On Wednesday, April 23rd, Hedo Türkoğlu, who won the Most Improved Player award yesterday, failed to attract attention.
Instead, LeBron James, who won two home games, once again became the focus.
After defeating the Toronto Raptors last night, James, at the press conference, discussed his views on the scoring title, which sparked heated discussion among basketball commentators:
"I don't care about stats. I never play for stats. Yes, I had a chance to win the scoring title, but Lee's playing time started to decrease in April."
"For a young player, accolades are good, but I want to win a real trophy that belongs to me!"
"I'm still young, maybe next season I'll be even more prepared. I hope to compete with Lee. This is a necessary path to greatness!"
These words were clearly pointed.
It was well known that the New York Media called Allen Iverson a "thief," believing he stole Clay Lee's scoring title, which made the Son of Philadelphia's trophy unrecognized.
James clearly learned from this lesson, openly admitting he disdained stat-padding, elevating his image while also riding Lee's popularity.
This was the second young player to explicitly issue a challenge.
The previous "fake fan" had already fallen, and James currently showed a trend of completely replacing Wade, becoming the true spokesperson of the new generation.
This morning, mainstream New York newspapers praised James's actions, commending his "competitive spirit," and incidentally, sarcastically belittled those who padded stats.
In the afternoon, on ESPN radio in New York, Stephen A. Smith and his co-host praised LeBron James's "challenge" and gave him extremely high praise:
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the pure basketball we've been waiting for!"
"..."
The The Chosen One's move earned him extremely high praise and incidentally covered up the fact that his scoring efficiency had declined this season.
The 76ers, who were warming up, helplessly found that they were once again ignored.
Ever since LeBron James "declared war" last night, the attention had been drawn away by him.
If you look at Reddit, there's even a large group of onlookers cheering for the The Chosen One, hoping James can lead his team to defeat the The Big Four...
Marbury and Pierce took pride in teaming up, which drew resistance from fans.
LeBron James, who embodies the "One Person, One City" award, is currently more popular.
Ever since Joakim Noah was "greeted" by Garnett, he began to intensely dislike his idol.
After seeing reports about James in New York, a surge of fighting spirit welled up in his heart:
"Maybe we can also win a game! James is right, we should challenge, fight like men!"
After returning to the locker room, the Rookie began to babble incessantly.
Louis Williams, seeing Andre Iguodala remain silent, couldn't help but interrupt after listening to some boring pep talk:
"Damn it! LeBron James just wants attention, you don't actually think he can win, do you!"
"From 2003 until now, the Cavaliers have never won a single game against the New York Knicks! He's a loser, just like us. Allen Iverson couldn't do it, and he can't either!"
Noah awkwardly stopped talking, ran a hand through his messy long hair, and finally confirmed with a questioning tone:
"Never won a single game?"
"Counting the playoffs, he really hasn't won a single game. We think he'll become the next Allen Iverson. Remember, Rookie, don't read those boring news stories. The NBA is more complex than you imagine!"
Andre Iguodala simply answered the Rookie's confusion, and soon Reggie Evans and a few others began to laugh and explain the process of Eastern Conference teams being dominated.
After confirming these absurd records, Noah finally scratched his head and returned to his seat, his excitement gone, and he muttered helplessly:
"Can you still issue a challenge after losing so badly?"
That night's game was still broadcast by TNT, but the disparity between the two teams was too great, and no one discussed this matchup much before the game.
Reporters crowded around Lee in the player's tunnel, all gossiping about the latest news.
The TNT reporter seemed to have forgotten about tonight's game, looking somewhat excited, and proactively asked about the gossip:
"Lee, regarding the scoring title competition, LeBron James will officially challenge you next season. How do you view this young opponent?"
Lee, who hadn't entered the locker room yet, was still in a light blue suit.
He had read the newspapers that morning, so he naturally wouldn't spoil the mood at this time, and responded with a smile:
"I welcome any challenge! Basketball should be competitive. Only then can fans enjoy higher-level games."
"Besides the scoring title, LeBron should also challenge himself. He needs to lead his team to win once. Next season, he can work towards that goal."
The surrounding reporters let out good-natured laughter.
The Cavaliers' record was indeed poor, but James's courage was commendable, as other young players hadn't been like him.
After answering two more questions, Ron Artest squeezed in.
Thanks to his excellent performance in practice, he was back in the starting lineup tonight.
Perhaps the reporters no longer paying attention to him irritated Ron Artest.
Noticing that someone still wanted to ask about James, he immediately leaned close to Lee and said loudly:
"He should consider how to score in front of me! He's overrated!"
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)