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***
On Thursday, February 8, 2007, Nike held an experience launch event for the G.O.A.T. Clay Lee Generation II at its newly opened flagship store in Manhattan.
Last year, Michael Jordan received approximately $40 million from Nike, and after Clay Lee's personal brand officially launched, it ultimately brought him about $36 million.
The former, through years of accumulation, has already transcended sports brands, while the latter sold like crazy in North America and Asia, with sales also starting to explode in Europe.
Besides further improving new technologies, the second-generation shoes primarily featured 'new' technology, just like Lee's earliest first generation.
Classic models would at least be 'cut' for 2 years!
At the end of the press conference, Matt Parker and Lee jointly announced a piece of news to the attending media reporters:
"This year, we will hold training camps and personal brand events in at least 4 countries and 6 European cities!"
"The O2 Arena, recently built in London with an NBA-style, will be the first stop."
"..."
Although this year's two shoe models didn't have many changes, the flashy color schemes and the news of the training camps still sparked heated discussion among the public.
However, that evening, some of the buzz around Lee's second-generation shoes was drawn away by Kobe's self-proclamation.
78:86, the Lakers regrettably lost their away game against the Detroit Pistons.
After Chris Webber chose to sign a multi-year contract with the Detroit Pistons, he showed impressive form, and the Detroit Pistons' record also began to rebound.
Kobe Bryant scored only 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting.
The Lakers, despite a rare full roster, had their recent record fluctuate again, falling to 28 wins and 22 losses after the defeat.
At Auburn Hills Palace, a defeated Kobe was in a bad mood.
Attending the press conference, he seized the opportunity when reporters questioned his shot selection to suddenly deliver a self-proclamation:
"I can take 40 shots in a game, you all know I can do it!"
"I am the special Black Mamba. It's not just about scoring, I need to do more!"
Hearing Kobe label himself the 'Black Mamba,' the reporters below were momentarily stunned.
Can you just give yourself a nickname?
Seeing everyone's expressions, Kobe didn't care.
After saying these words, he felt exceptionally relieved, as he had always wanted this title.
Afterward, the atmosphere of the press conference became somewhat strange, but Kobe didn't mind.
It wasn't until he and his teammates were on the bus, preparing to return to the hotel, that he realized something seemed off.
As All-Star Weekend approached, Derek Fisher, who was about to be officially elected Players Union President, was feeling a bit down.
After the loss, Old Fish boarded the bus in silence, while Smush Parker, who had become the sixth man, fidgeted in his seat, occasionally whispering to others:
"I should also give myself a cool nickname! That way, fans will remember me!"
Bursts of low laughter emanated from Parker's seat, and the surrounding mood-setters, mindful of the boss's feelings, didn't want to pick up the conversation.
From the back, Lamar Odom took off his headphones, glanced at the isolated Kobe, and nudged Derek Fisher beside him, whispering:
"Don't worry, little guy, didn't you send her to New York for treatment? Everything will be fine."
Old Fish's daughter, Tatum, was diagnosed with a rare eye cancer.
The Lakers' loss was also related to Derek Fisher's poor form. Lamar Odom, who lost his own child last year, empathized and had been comforting his teammate recently.
"I know, I hope everything goes well. Lee promised me he would take care of Candice and them."
Lamar Odom sighed inwardly.
The Lakers' terrible locker room atmosphere made him uncomfortable.
Back then, he also had a chance to join the Knicks but ultimately chose the Heat for money.
"I think Kobe should see a psychologist. He pays too much attention to external evaluations. We all know Lee doesn't consider him a rival..."
After the Christmas War, the locker room exploded.
Lamar Odom couldn't find his previous game rhythm after returning from injury, and his complaints to Old Fish were also due to severely shrunken stats.
No sooner had he finished whispering than Lamar Odom heard a text message notification.
He pulled out his phone to check, and it was from Kobe, making him feel a bit guilty for a moment:
"No one can compare to me. I am the best scorer in the league."
Lamar Odom was speechless looking at the text message on his phone.
He subtly glanced at Kobe in the back and again whispered his complaint to Old Fish:
"You should go talk to Phil, get Jerry Buss to allocate funds. We really need a psychologist."
"..."
Due to injury, Dirk Nowitzki replaced Yao Ming as a Western Conference All-Star starter.
That evening, the All-Star Game's reserve roster was announced on TNT's program.
The 7 reserves for the Eastern Conference are:
Gilbert Arenas, Hamilton, Dwyane Wade, Vince Carter, Ron Artest, Chris Bosh, Jermaine ONeal.
The 7 reserves for the Western Conference are:
Tony Parker, Deron Williams, Ray Allen, Shawn Marion, Josh Howard, Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer.
Kidd and Steve Nash were originally selected for the reserve roster, but due to injuries, Hamilton and Deron Williams replaced them.
Although Carlos Boozer also suffered an injury, out of loyalty to the fans, he ultimately chose to play through it!
Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony both missed out, which would undoubtedly become a hot topic for tomorrow's commentators.
In the studio, the trio didn't discuss the past-their-prime stars but instead joked about Kobe's new nickname.
"I don't think Vince Carter will like Kobe's remarks. He has always claimed that the nickname Clay Lee gave him motivated him."
"But I like to see competition. Perhaps their previous encounters sparked something!"
Charles Barkley lowered his head and burst into laughter after saying this, seemingly finding something so funny that he couldn't stop laughing in the studio for a moment.
"Stop over-analyzing it, Chuck, we all know this is just a Nike promotional tactic."
"Kobe Bryant also released new shoes not long ago. The shoes incorporated some snake elements, which we've also seen on Michael Jordan's shoes, so there's nothing strange about it."
Hearing Kenny Smith's words, Charles Barkley finally stopped laughing.
He looked up at the camera, smiling, and feigned seriousness as he quipped:
"I know, I know those shoes, and that's exactly why I wanted to laugh!"
"Kobe Bryant is immersed in a Michael Jordan impersonation show. Phil Jackson seems to have woven a beautiful dream for him, but he should wake up."
"He should look at how Clay Lee plays. Look at the Phoenix Suns. Although they are imitating, their record doesn't lie. Alvin Gentry successfully activated the team!"
With 39 wins and 10 losses, the Phoenix Suns currently hold a steady second place in the Western Conference, surpassing the San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz, who are plagued by injuries.
Under the rules, Alvin Gentry will be the Western Conference All-Star Head Coach this year.
The Eastern Conference All-Star coach selection is without suspense.
It's Mike D'Antoni again.
Bringing up this topic, Ernie Johnson couldn't help but mention Lee's performance in January again, while also interrupting his partner's mockery:
"Clay Lee and Steve Nash's performances were indeed outstanding. The New York Knicks went 14-1 in January, while the Phoenix Suns went 15-1."
"Both were deservedly named Players of the Month. I think Alvin Gentry should lift the scoring restrictions on Steve Nash. His efficiency is no less than Clay Lee's."
"Unfortunately, Steve Nash suffered an injury early in the month. I hope he recovers soon."
Averaging 36.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 2.9 steals, 1.1 blocks, and 1.7 turnovers per game, with a field goal percentage of 62.0%, a three-point percentage of 47.7%, and a free throw percentage of 92.5%.
With an average playing time of 33.6 minutes per game, Clay Lee once again delivered incredible statistics.
Averaging 18.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 13.0 assists, 0.5 steals, and 3.6 turnovers per game, with a field goal percentage of 54.5%, a three-point percentage of 45.7%, and a free throw percentage of 84.6%.
Steve Nash's performance in January was excellent.
He was essentially an offensively weakened version of Lee.
Their playing times were nearly identical, with Steve Nash having 0.8 more minutes.
Clay Lee had more shot attempts, rising to 19.
Tactically, with Amare Stoudemire, the Phoenix Suns were a replica of the New York Knicks.
The mirror replication drew criticism from many commentators, but Kenny Smith once again expressed approval on the program, praising the Phoenix Suns' performance:
"Chuck was right about one thing: the Lakers haven't made any trades, and they really should consider changing their tactical approach. The Phoenix Suns are the best example to learn from."
"Congratulations again to Alvin Gentry for being selected to coach the Western Conference All-Star team. He deserves it!"
"..."
The Lakers' record declined, and Kobe suddenly seemed past his prime.
This self-proclamation infuriated Vince Carter the next day.
On Friday, February 9, the Nets visited the Celtics, and Vince Carter, playing with anger, exploded.
106:78, Paul Pierce was out due to injury, and the Nets ultimately won decisively against their opponent.
Jason Kidd's absence did not affect Vince Carter's form:
Playing 35 minutes, 12-of-26 shooting, 3-of-9 from three-point range, 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, for 32 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, and 4 turnovers.
Vince Carter completely dominated the Celtics' perimeter.
With a mediocre record of 24 wins and 27 losses, the Nets' performance was average, but after the game, Doug Rivers did not hold back his praise, commending Vince Carter's play:
"Clay Lee's presence has overshadowed the brilliance of many excellent players, especially those from the three cities of New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Boston. They are all underestimated."
"Vince Carter is a gifted scorer. When he gets into a rhythm, he's as deadly as the Black Mamba. Tonight, he delivered a spectacular performance for the fans!"
With 10 wins and 38 losses, the Celtics had long been numb to losing.
Rivers' job this season was simply to praise opponents.
Vince Carter, attending the press conference, also spoke up for himself.
Although he was in a good mood after the win, when asked about the nickname, he still spoke with a hint of sarcasm:
"Perhaps Kobe should call himself the Los Angeles Mamba. He doesn't understand the story behind this nickname. It was Lee's recognition of me in the playoffs."
"Playing in Los Angeles, he always gets extra attention, but I don't care about that. I only focus on the current game."
"..."
The existence of the New York Knicks severely affected nearby New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Boston, and the Nets' ticket prices became increasingly cheaper.
Vince Carter, who was about to lose his ticket-selling appeal, disliked Kobe Bryant stealing his title, and his quick counterattack attracted the attention of many basketball commentators.
On Saturday, February 10th, the New York Knicks gathered at EnergySolutions Arena in the afternoon for warm-ups.
Mike Malone, who was elected Head Coach of the Rookie Challenge, was in a great mood.
After flying to Salt Lake City yesterday, he frequently accepted interviews, and the Houston Rockets were interested in offering him a Head Coach position.
While the players were warming up, Mike D'Antoni, who was being interviewed, also joked about his partner, and when discussing the Head Coach issue, he offered his opinion:
"Mike is capable of being a Head Coach. Many times, I hand the team over to him, and everyone on the team likes his guidance."
"Unfortunately, I won't be leaving New York, so he can only serve as an assistant coach."
Mike D'Antoni's words made Mike Malone laugh loudly.
Pointing at Lee, who was warming up with mid-court shots, Mike Malone said with a smile:
"I won't be leaving here. It's my honor to personally experience Lee's great career!"
"Lee is still improving. Although you might find it unbelievable, I want to say it's true!"
"..."
After a barrage of praise from the two, the court was filled with a joyful atmosphere, which made Rajon Rondo, who was constantly practicing shooting, uncomfortable.
This was completely different from the NBA he had envisioned.
Despite wearing the latest G.O.A.T. Lee II New York Knicks colored sneakers, Rajon Rondo didn't like Lee's style.
After joining the team, their communication had been too little.
This was related to the sycophants within the team.
The Rookie Rajon Rondo could never bring himself to be like JR Smith, who would shamelessly praise others.
"If I were Lee, I couldn't be so devoted. Look at Kidd, that guy slept with so many girls after he got married."
"Just because of a kiss before a free throw, everyone said he was a good man. Now those reporters have seen his true colors!"
"Lee is the real quality star. My father always told me to learn from Lee."
After JR Smith entered the stable rotation, he became a mindless praiser.
At this time, while warming up with the atmosphere group, he didn't forget to loudly praise.
"Yes," "That's right," "Me too," and other voices began to appear on the court.
Rajon Rondo's eyes twitched slightly as he listened.
He hadn't expected to be able to praise from such an angle.
Jumana Kidd accused her husband of having extramarital affairs with several different TV reporters.
He also had relationships with strippers, Nets season ticket holders, Nets staff, and cheerleaders in Arizona, Sacramento, Miami, Dallas, and Indiana.
The news that the married Kidd had over 10 lovers recently swept through the NBA circles.
For Rajon Rondo, who understood the inside story, the only true good man was Grant Hill.
To praise against his conscience, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
Before the game that night, in the visiting team's locker room, a group of reporters crowded around Lee again.
Kidd's divorce case was not worth paying attention to.
Everyone wanted to hear news about the "Mamba":
"Lee, Vince Carter thinks Kobe shouldn't promote himself as the 'Black Mamba.' What do you think about that? That's the title you gave to Vince Carter."
ESPN reporters loved to report on Kobe's news.
Lee found that no one cared about tonight's game, so he couldn't help but tease:
"Aren't you concerned that I'll continue to get 30 points tonight? I remember a few days ago you were still discussing records."
"As for the title, I don't think Vince Carter will be stingy. Black Mamba represents a spirit that has infected Kobe, and I'm happy for both of them."
Hearing this answer, an awkward emotion involuntarily arose in the hearts of the sports reporters surrounding them.
Lee was clearly saying something positive, but they always felt that he was mocking his opponents.
Finally, a Fox Sports reporter broke the strange atmosphere and asked again:
"Clay, how many points will you score tonight? Deron Williams congratulated you before the game."
Clay Lee had just tied Michael Jordan's record of 20 consecutive 30+ point games from the 86-87 season.
Tonight, Carlos Boozer continued to recover from injury, and everyone believed that the New York Knicks would not lose.
"I like Deron's form this year. Congratulations to him on being selected for the All-Star!"
"As for scoring, 30 points will be enough. I'll end the suspense of the game as early as possible."
Ron Artest, who was squeezed to the side, also started bragging loudly after hearing Lee's words, and by the way, he also mocked Jerry Sloan's tactics:
"Wilt Chamberlain's record is Clay Lee's goal. If it weren't for the opponents being too weak, 30 points in 82 games could easily be achieved!"
"Everyone is imitating us. Even if they don't say it, everyone knows that no one can succeed. Our Defense is underestimated, and Tayshaun Prince should have been selected for the All-Star."
Tayshaun Prince's form was more stable than Raja Bell's, with better performance on both offense and Defense, but the Eastern Conference All-Star reserve became a game of dividing up the fruits, and he ultimately missed out.
Many reporters turned around to try and interview Tayshaun Prince, who didn't complain, but rather joked about himself:
"I prefer to go to Las Vegas as a tourist!"
"..."
That night, nearly 20,000 Utah Jazz fans poured into EnergySolutions Arena.
The improved record boosted the market.
Head Coach Jerry Sloan proactively changed his lineup tonight, with Paul Millsap, Andrei Kirilenko, and Mehmet Okur partnering in the frontcourt.
With the backcourt duo of Deron Williams and Gordan GiriÄek suppressed, Mehmet Okur suddenly exploded.
When Mehmet Okur hit his second three-pointer from the arc, facing Chandler's closeout, he couldn't help but pump his fist and roar, instantly igniting the atmosphere.
The home commentator Craig Bolerjack, who had just taken over the TV broadcast, couldn't help but praise loudly.
He didn't like the outside criticism of Coach Jerry Sloan:
"This is Utah Jazz basketball. I don't know when stubbornness became a label for Coach Sloan."
"Look at his transformation of Deron Williams. A Rookie being selected for the All-Star is inseparable from the Head Coach's trust and support."
Midway through the first quarter, unable to widen the gap, Mike D'Antoni proactively called a timeout.
Chandler, who was substituted out, was secretly annoyed.
He hated big men who could shoot three-pointers.
Without much instruction, Mike D'Antoni just pulled aside Boris Diaw, who was about to enter the game, and gave him a couple of instructions.
Then he folded his arms, smiled, and continued to stand idle on the sidelines.
Loyal Utah Jazz fans saw their "arch-rivals" inbound the ball, and a wave of boos erupted.
The atmosphere in Salt Lake City has always been like this in recent years.
Lee waved from outside the sideline, and soon Boris Diaw popped out to the arc beyond the three-point line to receive the ball.
After inbounding the ball, Deron Williams didn't even look at the receiver behind him.
He immediately squeezed in front of Lee, trying to use tight Defense on the left wing to restrict Lee from receiving the ball.
When Lee moved towards the arc, his center of gravity lowered.
Deron quickly slid, and their bodies collided.
The referee ignored Deron's somewhat exaggerated lean back.
The moment the ball was received, Boris Diaw proactively stepped forward to screen.
As Lee moved horizontally with the ball in his right hand, Andrei Kirilenko, who was trying to double-team, was pushed away by Boris Diaw.
Deron, who was chasing, didn't stop.
Noticing Pau Gasol popping out to the arc, he quickly adjusted his center of gravity, wanting to squeeze past immediately, but Lee suddenly slowed down.
Leaning into the Defense, he paused slightly.
As Pau Gasol stood firm, Lee pulled the ball back to fake a shot, then quickly twisted his body, instantly passing by Pau Gasol.
Deron, who had stopped, lost his defensive position with a sudden stop-and-go.
Mehmet Okur, who was following out, stepped on the three-point line.
Seeing Lee break free from the Defense, he immediately stopped, raised the ball, and shot, instinctively jumping up to defend.
"Squeak!"
The big man's clumsy blocking motion resulted in a clear foul.
As the referee blew his whistle, the basketball flew unimpeded towards the rim, and then a huge boo erupted again in the EnergySolutions Arena.
16:13, the three-pointer swished through the net, with 6 minutes and 17 seconds left in the first quarter.
Watching Clay Lee being helped up by his teammates, Coach Jerry Sloan on the sidelines subconsciously shook his head, no longer complaining about the screen issue.
Relying on Deron to squeeze past and protect the big man would eventually lead to such situations.
Jeff Hornacek, who was invited to commentate on the game, was somewhat helpless.
As a player who had faced Lee, his exaggerated shooting ability left a deep impression on him:
"Maybe we should lower our lineup. Andre should play the 5, and Mehmet's touch is good, but he's too passive on Defense."
As Lee's free throw also went in, Craig Bolerjack also agreed, saying:
"Facing a more cohesive pick-and-roll, Deron's Defense is in trouble. Now he needs help."
Deron, who received the ball on the baseline, was immediately pressured by Lee as soon as he dribbled past half-court.
He protected the ball with his body sideways at the arc, waiting for a teammate's screen.
When Mehmet Okur stood firm, Pau Gasol proactively stepped out to delay.
The perfectly timed defensive distance made it difficult for Deron to explode and accelerate immediately.
He drove with the ball in his right hand, lowering his shoulder, trying to shake off the Defense with speed.
Lee, who was chasing, didn't rush to double-team.
Under the pressure of the two, Deron, who was driving through the middle, realized that his passing lanes were cut off and decisively drove straight to the basket.
Pau Gasol, who was following, merely raised his left arm, interfering with Deron as he slowed down and leaned into Lee, attempting a one-handed floater.
However, the moment the ball left his hand, it was rejected by Lee's big block as he jumped with him.
"Oh!"
Amidst gasps, Boris Diaw, who was about to jump out of bounds, scooped the ball back.
As Pau Gasol gained control of the ball, all the Utah Jazz players immediately retreated to defend.
Mehmet Okur's retreat speed from beyond the three-point line was incredibly fast, but Lee, who received the long pass, almost chased the opponent's backside across half-court.
Deron, who stumbled out of bounds, failed to retreat in time and shouted loudly from behind.
Mehmet Okur quickly turned around, trying to delay at the three-point line.
The big man had just stopped when Clay Lee, with the ball in his left hand, also slowed down.
Still a step away from the three-point line, he straightened his body while feigning a shot with his right hand.
The moment he looked up at the rim, Mehmet Okur instinctively stepped forward.
Just as he raised his hand, he saw Lee push the ball and change direction with the momentum.
His center of gravity suddenly dropped sharply.
With an exaggerated range of motion, when Lee scooped the ball with his right hand, he instantly broke free from the Defense, flying low to the ground and driving straight to the basket.
Mehmet Okur, attempting to chase, stumbled.
He tried to twist his body to pursue, but as he stepped, he sprained his left foot, falling to the ground in pain and letting out a scream:
"Ah!"
The fall and the dunk happened almost simultaneously.
After Lee took three big strides and jumped, he grabbed the ball with his right hand and delivered a powerful one-handed slam dunk, and EnergySolutions Arena fell silent.
19:13, the referee called a timeout.
Matt Harpring received instructions from Coach Jerry Sloan, stood up, and substituted in for Mehmet Okur, who was being helped off the court by his teammates.
The Utah Jazz's lineup height began to decrease.
Deron did not speed up the offensive tempo.
When Andrei Kirilenko received the ball at the top of the arc for the first time, he immediately performed a UCLA cut after passing the ball.
This set of tactics could only be used to abuse weaker teams in the league.
Clay Lee easily kept up with him on Defense, and Paul Millsap's screen on the left near the baseline didn't have much effect.
When he popped out to the left wing, Deron failed to receive the pass immediately.
Gordan GiriÄek had no choice but to complete a handoff with his teammate on the other side.
Under Grant Hill's close Defense, the latter could only 'stir-fry' the ball at the top of the arc.
Deron, who still wanted to receive the ball, eventually watched Gordan GiriÄek drive hard down the middle.
His somewhat rushed floater in the paint hit the backboard directly.
Matt Harpring was squeezed behind Ron Artest, the two of them jostling near the right baseline, and the rebound was picked up by the retreating Pau Gasol.
Paul Millsap didn't expect his opponent to rush with the ball, and he lost his defensive position for a moment, helplessly watching the New York Knicks players counterattack at full speed.
Amidst the boos, Deron, who was chasing on Defense, only had Lee in his eyes.
When he ran to the right wing, he helplessly realized that Pau Gasol, who was rushing faster and faster, was unguarded, and he scored with a two-handed dunk in the middle!
21:13, two counterattacks, the point difference instantly widened.
Coach Jerry Sloan shouted loudly from the sidelines, reminding his teammates to speed up the offensive tempo.
Deron was delayed at the top of the arc and almost committed a turnover.
He twisted his body and passed the ball sideways to Andrei Kirilenko at the free throw line, who then made a jump shot.
Before the Utah Jazz players could celebrate, the New York Knicks quickly inbounded the ball, and in the blink of an eye, Clay Lee had crossed the half-court line.
Holding the ball in his right hand, he came to the right wing. Lee, who had carried Deron across half-court, suddenly dribbled the ball hard and stopped abruptly, pulling it back with an extremely quick crossover, the basketball instantly returning to his left hand.
Due to inertia, Deron retreated inside the three-point line.
Seeing Lee straighten his upper body, he immediately stepped forward to guard him closely.
Before his opponent could interfere, Lee suddenly turned with the momentum, and the moment the ball touched his right hand, he lowered his center of gravity again, feigning a drive.
Although his teammates had already retreated on Defense, Deron's mind was blank at this moment.
Following his body's instinct, he forcibly slid backward and to the left again.
The fans in the arena gasped again.
Lee pulled the ball back with another crossover.
The'stir-frying' motion on the spot caused Deron, who was trying to shift his center of gravity, to stumble and sit on the floor.
Watching Lee gather the ball and jump shoot from the right wing without interference, Jeff Hornacek's emotions surged, and he couldn't hold back, muttering:
"Oh! God! Not again!"
The basketball went through the net cleanly.
Andrei Kirilenko, who ran back to the basket, angrily slammed the ball.
Lee didn't even look at the Rookie in front of him, tilting his head to shout at his old friend at the commentary table:
"Jeff, a gift for you!"
Craig Bolerjack looked at the retreating Lee, and at this point, he was also a bit flustered.
As the home commentator, he simply encouraged loudly:
"Foul! We should use fouls to disrupt these transition offenses! Our young guys must respond with toughness!"
Every time Deron, as the initiator of the tactics, tried to complete a pick-and-roll, he would be delayed by the Defense.
After passing the ball, it took more effort to get it back.
The coach's instructions didn't work.
For two consecutive possessions, the Utah Jazz played until the 24-second shot clock expired.
Paul Millsap committed a foul.
In a half-court offense, Lee's screen attracted the Defense.
Grant Hill in the left corner received a pass from Pau Gasol and drove horizontally for an easy 2 points.
Matt Harpring also committed a foul.
On Defense, he over-helped in the right elbow area and Lee easily set up an assist, with Ron Artest making a three-point jump shot from the right wing.
29:15, at the end of the first quarter, the EnergySolutions Arena was completely silent.
The New York Knicks bench was jubilant. Ron Artest, who made the shot, excitedly shouted at the fans on the sidelines:
"Come on! Keep it up!"
Paul Millsap's turnaround jump shot in the left low post was interfered with by Pau Gasol and missed.
Deron's foul sent Lee directly to the free throw line, and Mike D'Antoni began to applaud with a smile on the sidelines.
"Teams that imitate us will never succeed!"
Mike Malone covered his mouth and whispered to the coaching staff.
Everyone smiled and nodded.
The Utah Jazz's high double-screen quality was very good, but Deron couldn't just shoot whenever an opportunity arose.
This was a fundamental difference.
The New York Knicks began to rotate.
Rajon Rondo, sitting in his seat, sighed inwardly as he watched his opponent enter the bonus and then get hit with consecutive counterattacks:
"It seems like it's just going to be garbage time."
As Lee's super long three-pointer missed at the last moment, the score was set at 39:19, and the game lost its suspense.
Frequent free throws disrupted the Utah Jazz's offensive rhythm.
Jeff Hornacek heard his partner share the stats, a bitter smile appeared on his face, and he finally commented helplessly:
"Besides time, no one can limit Clay Lee. I'm starting to miss 90s basketball. At least Michael Jordan's offense didn't make me feel despair."
Playing the entire first quarter, Clay Lee shot 6-for-8 from the field, 2-for-4 from three-point range, and 5-for-5 from the free throw line, tallying 19 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, and 1 block, essentially matching the Utah Jazz's entire team.
Shooting 1-for-4, with 2 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 turnovers, Deron Williams, back on the bench, had completely lost his excitement.
All the joy of being selected for the All-Star Game disappeared.
Watching Coach Jerry Sloan meticulously draw up tactics on the whiteboard, Deron frowned and muttered to himself:
"Maybe I should get more shot attempts."
On sunday, February 11th, ESPN led the charge in hyping up Clay Lee, who easily broke Michael Jordan's record of consecutive 30+ point games.
Combined with his 30-point, 10-assist record from previous years, major sports media outlets couldn't stop praising him, with some even suggesting that Clay Lee could break Wilt Chamberlain's 'stat-padding' record.
The Lakers were still on their road trip.
After losing to the Cavaliers on sunday night, the joyful atmosphere at Gund Arena made the unique Black Mamba's face long and drawn.
Even with LeBron James shooting 5-for-16, scoring 18 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 turnover, the Cavaliers still won!
90:101, Dwight Howard, selected for the All-Star Game, exploded for a huge double-double of 20 points and 16 rebounds with the help of LeBron James's assists.
With a record of 36 wins and 15 losses, after winning this game, the Cavaliers remained firmly in second place in the Eastern Conference.
Good news brings good spirits.
Although his low-post offense was still shockingly crude, relying on his strong muscles and exceptional explosiveness, Dwight Howard, who controlled the rebounds, dominated the Lakers' paint.
In this ABC national broadcast, Dwight Howard was the biggest winner.
When interviewed on the sidelines, the happy 'big boy' proactively brought up the recently hot topic:
"Maybe I should give myself a nickname too! How about Superman? I think I am the Superman of the league!"
"I know Shaq also likes that name, but if Kobe can be the Black Mamba, I can also be Superman."
Grinning widely, Dwight Howard didn't even consider LeBron James's feelings, and his smile grew even brighter when he talked about the All-Star Weekend:
"You know, this is my first time being selected as an All-Star starter. I want to show what I can do!"
"Playing with Lee, I'll have more opportunities for easy dunks. I'm a practical dunker. I still haven't decided which moves to use for the Slam Dunk Contest."
LeBron James, watching Dwight Howard smile happily, felt somewhat depressed.
His jump shot was being targeted, and his missed shots paradoxically gave his teammates more opportunities to shine.
When attending the press conference, Kobe, who efficiently scored 36 points on 12-for-24 shooting, did not receive praise.
Sports reporters were still mocking his nickname.
LeBron James, who performed poorly, heard reporters constantly asking about Kobe, and suddenly, possessed by jealousy, blurted out his true feelings:
"Why are we always discussing a playoff-fringe team? I remember Clay Lee called me the Mamba of Akron. I guess you all forgot about that."
"I won't imitate anyone. I only like to be myself!"
The 'Mamba' incident remained a hot topic.
When the New York Knicks played the Warriors on the road, devoted fan Baron Davis, although out with an injury, spoke out after the game:
"I support Vince Carter! He has Clay Lee's approval. He is the true Black Mamba."
"I won't wear Kobe's shoes. Perhaps he wants to add some popularity to his sneakers, but we won't buy into it."
Since the Pacers officially entered a rebuilding phase, Stephen Jackson was recently traded to the Warriors.
Although his performance was poor tonight, it didn't affect his big mouth:
"Vince Carter is a true warrior! I know him. The Nets always encounter Clay Lee in the playoffs, otherwise, they would have a chance to reach the Finals."
"I don't like Kobe's rhetoric. He should remain humble. He should understand that he has received preferential treatment from the league."
Matt Barnes, who successfully entered the Warriors' rotation, received more playing time.
He had completely shed his role as a hype man.
When his teammates held him back, he also joked:
"Kobe is jealous of Lee. Look at the scoring list now. He's been completely suppressed this year!"
"I spent many years in New York. In fact, Lee never considered him an opponent. Shaquille O'Neal was the one that Lakers team needed to focus on."
"I will only wear Lee's shoes. His advertisement failed."
119:100, the Warriors lost, but Lee's old friends were overly active, laughing and mocking the confident Kobe.
The Heat of this topic was likely to continue until the All-Star Weekend.
With a record of 50 wins and 2 losses, the New York Knicks had basically secured a playoff spot.
Clay Lee was currently blocked by Monta Ellis, this second-year Rookie who was a hype man last year but made a name for himself this year:
"Lee, you've always been my idol! I want to play like you. Can you sign for me?"
Perhaps because he rarely did such things, Monta Ellis was a bit embarrassed.
Lee patted this nervous Rookie and offered his encouragement:
"You played well tonight!"
Monta Ellis originally wanted Lee to give him a nickname as well, but unfortunately, 'Golden State Mamba' did not appear.
Looking at the departing figure, the Rookie couldn't help but make a firm decision:
"I will get recognition."
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)