Chapter 141: Non-existent Rookie Wall
With the season progressing, the Knicks didn't spiral into a losing streak after their defeat to the Jazz. Instead, they rebounded with a new wave of four consecutive victories. Lian Dao was a key factor, averaging an impressive 32.6 points, 11.6 assists, and 8.2 rebounds during this stretch.
Lian Dao's performance silenced the media critics who had predicted he'd hit the so-called "rookie wall." His unstoppable play in these four games was proof that he was far from slowing down. The Knicks secured victories against the Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, and New Jersey Nets. While they defeated the Warriors and Nets by a comfortable 10-point margin, the Hawks and Pacers put up a tougher fight, with the Knicks narrowly winning by 3-5 points.
When facing the Golden State Warriors, Lian Dao had another encounter with Stephen Curry. This time, Curry came off the bench but still showcased his impressive three-point shooting, knocking down six from beyond the arc. Although Curry hadn't yet reached the peak of his three-point prowess, the potential was clear.
Lian Dao, on the other hand, made nine three-pointers, including three from ultra-long range, which opened Curry's eyes to new possibilities. While Curry had hit deep threes in the NCAA, the NBA's longer three-point line posed a greater challenge. At Davidson College, Curry was the focal point with the green light to shoot at will, but his role with the Warriors was different. With Monta Ellis dominating possessions, Curry, as a rookie, found himself limited in opportunities.
Curry couldn't help but envy Lian Dao, who, as a fellow rookie from the 2009 draft, had already established himself as the core of the Knicks, regularly scoring 30+ points per game. In contrast, Curry's role was much more restricted, making the gap between their rookie seasons feel like a difference of two levels.
In this alternate reality, Curry had hoped to join the Knicks, but the butterfly effect of the Knicks securing the No. 1 pick altered history. Unlike the original timeline where the Knicks were interested in Curry, they now had Lian Dao as their cornerstone.
Lian Dao recalled that D'Antoni had once expressed his admiration for the baby-faced point guard. Having coached Steve Nash, D'Antoni didn't view Curry's slight frame as a limitation. In fact, Curry's exceptional three-point shooting made D'Antoni believe he had even greater offensive potential than Nash.
Historically, had the Warriors not swooped in, Curry might have ended up in the Big Apple, a city he had once dreamed of playing for.
In this game, the eccentric and innovative coach Don Nelson was eager to see which of the two sharpshooters, Lian Dao or Stephen Curry, had the superior three-point shot. Unsurprisingly, Lian Dao emerged victorious. This outcome was expected, as Lian Dao's three-point shooting talent was derived from Stephen Curry, but specifically from Curry's peak abilities in 2012.
At this point, Curry was still developing, not yet the formidable shooter he would become in 2012. However, witnessing Lian Dao's ultra-long three-pointers during the game bolstered Curry's confidence and solidified his determination to refine his deep shooting range.
After the game, the two players exchanged handshakes and hugs. Curry, intrigued by Lian Dao's shooting prowess, asked him about his three-point technique. Although Lian Dao was a bit surprised by the question, he shared some of his insights during later media interviews. He discussed the importance of a quick release and the confidence needed to take decisive three-point shots.
Lian Dao, however, was careful not to impose his own methods too strongly on Curry. He recognized that the two had different roles, body types, and offensive styles. He emphasized that Curry should find the approach that best suited him, as Lian Dao didn't want to inadvertently steer Curry off his own path. While Curry could eventually return to his original style, any detour might cost valuable time, which couldn't be regained.
The Knicks ultimately defeated the Golden State Warriors 121-107.
Looking ahead to the game against the New Jersey Nets, many anticipated a Chinese derby between Lian Dao and Yi Jianlian. However, Yi Jianlian, sidelined by an injury, was relegated to the sidelines, dressed in a suit and seated in the audience.
Yi Jianlian had started the season strong, recording a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds in the season opener, followed by a solid performance with 12 points and 5 rebounds in the second game. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury during a matchup against the Charlotte Bobcats, derailing his momentum.
Without the benefit of Lian Dao's supernatural system, Yi Jianlian was one of China's most promising basketball talents. In his rookie season, he averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds per game with a 50% shooting percentage, earning the Rookie of the Month award. Many fans had high hopes for him, but injuries took their toll.
After recovering from his first major injury, Yi Jianlian lost his starting position and saw his playing time drastically reduced. He eventually found a resurgence with the Nets, reclaiming his starting role, only to face another setback with his current injury. Fortunately, this injury was not severe, but it would keep him out of action for about a month and a half.
At the end of the game, the Knicks secured another victory, defeating the New Jersey Nets 118-105.
Yi Jianlian, sidelined due to injury, hosted the post-game gathering and had originally planned to invite Lian Dao to dinner. However, due to the Knicks' tight schedule with a back-to-back game the following day, they had to quickly pack up and return to New York, postponing their dinner plans. Despite the time constraints, the two players managed to catch up briefly, and before parting, Lian Dao reminded Yi Jianlian to prioritize taking care of his body and maintaining good communication with his teammates.
With these four consecutive wins behind them, the Knicks were facing a daunting challenge in their upcoming games. Their next opponents were the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, two of the most formidable teams in the league, representing the dominant forces of the Eastern and Western Conferences, respectively.
Moreover, the game against the Celtics was part of a back-to-back schedule, adding to the Knicks' difficulty. Following these two tough matchups, the Knicks would face the Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, and Phoenix Suns. Of these six teams, only the Sacramento Kings could be considered a relatively weaker opponent; the others posed significant challenges.
The Boston Celtics, in particular, were a team to be reckoned with. Their roster included the Big Three—Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen—along with the dynamic point guard Rajon Rondo. Even though Garnett's performance had declined slightly since his injury last season, he was still a force to be reckoned with, averaging 13.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Pierce continued to play consistently, embodying reliability on the court, while Ray Allen remained a dangerous threat from beyond the arc, despite a slight dip in his shooting percentage.
The Knicks' upcoming game against the Celtics had many fans and media outlets doubting their chances. The Celtics had a clear advantage in overall strength, and the back-to-back schedule further stacked the odds against New York. While Paul Millsap had shown promising performances recently, it was widely believed that he would struggle to contain Garnett. The only significant advantage the Knicks held was Lian Dao, whose speed and explosiveness might prove too much for the 32-year-old Paul Pierce to handle.
However, other matchups on the court leaned in favor of the Celtics, which fueled the pessimism of many fans and analysts. Still, a subset of Knicks fans remained optimistic, believing that their team had a shot at victory. They argued that while the Celtics were strong, their roster was better suited for the playoffs and against teams with a slower, inside-focused playstyle. The Knicks, in contrast, were a young, fast-paced team that excelled in run-and-gun situations—a style of play that could exploit the Celtics' older, slower lineup.
Indeed, with three of the Celtics' starting five over 32 years old, and even their bench featuring key players in their 30s, the aging roster struggled against younger, faster teams. Knicks fans hopeful for a win believed that if the team could leverage their speed and focus on running the Celtics out of the gym, they could pull off an upset.
In this respect, D'Antoni was seen as the right coach to orchestrate such a strategy, given his expertise in fast-paced, offensive basketball. With the Knicks' starting lineup averaging under 25 years old, the potential for an upset was there, even if it was still largely a matter of hopeful speculation among fans.
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