Chapter 165: Volleyball Smash Block
Sure enough, the Spurs have always been known for their sneaky tactics—players and coaches alike.
D'Antoni was momentarily stunned when he realized what Popovich was doing. I'm ready to go to war with you, and now you're pulling out of the fight? He couldn't believe it. Popovich had withdrawn Richard Jefferson, practically stepping back from the confrontation.
With his plans foiled, D'Antoni made another switch. He had been rotating Eddie Curry in and out, but now opted to bring Darko Milicic into the game. The reasoning was clear—David Lee wasn't physically capable of withstanding Duncan's relentless post presence, and while Millsap had the strength to battle Duncan, he lacked the height and wingspan to truly challenge him.
Milicic's entrance wasn't just a tactical substitution; D'Antoni was hoping for something different—a spark of change in the Knicks' defense.
The game resumed, and the Knicks had possession. Replacing Jefferson was Keith Bogans, but his defensive prowess was nowhere near Jefferson's level. He was slower and struggled to match up with the quickness and shooting of Lian Dao. Unfortunately for Popovich, with Jefferson benched and a young Kawhi Leonard still a few seasons away, the Spurs didn't have a reliable option at the small forward position.
As Lian Dao brought the ball up, he noticed Bogans guarding him. Without hesitation, Lian Dao pulled up for a three-pointer. At 196 cm, Bogans didn't have the size or reach to disrupt the shot.
Swish!
The ball sliced through the net cleanly. The Knicks, now fueled by the intensity of Duhon's injury, had shifted into another gear defensively, each player stepping up their efforts.
On the other end, Ginobili lobbed the ball inside to Duncan, who caught it with clear intentions of going for a thunderous alley-oop dunk. But just as Duncan elevated, a shadow moved swiftly in front of him.
Milicic!
Despite being a center, Milicic had the agility of a power forward. He met Duncan at the rim, arms fully extended, ready to challenge. Duncan, usually so composed and dominant, didn't expect this sudden confrontation from a player once labeled as a draft bust.
Thud!
Milicic absorbed the contact mid-air, contesting Duncan's dunk attempt. The ball rattled against the rim and then flew out. Duncan, stunned, landed hard and turned to face Milicic with wide eyes. What just happened?
For a moment, it seemed as if Milicic was a different player altogether. Confidence radiated from him—a look that was rarely seen from the once-disappointing third overall pick.
The ball was picked up by Holiday, who quickly passed it to Lian Dao on the fast break. Without hesitation, Lian Dao soared to the rim and threw down a thunderous dunk.
As they jogged back to defense, Lian Dao, Holiday, and Milicic exchanged high-fives in celebration.
"Great job, Darko! That's how you do it! Believe in yourself, you can make it happen!" Lian Dao's voice was full of energy, boosting Milicic's confidence.
For the first time in a while, Milicic smiled—a stark contrast to the usually somber expression he carried.
The latter half of the first quarter turned entirely in the Knicks' favor. Their fast-paced offense and stifling defense were too much for the aging Spurs, leaving them struggling to keep up. By the end of the first quarter, the Knicks held a solid 10-point lead, 32-22.
Lian Dao stayed on the court to lead the bench in the second quarter. Popovich, hesitant but hopeful, subbed Richard Jefferson back in, pairing him with Ginobili in a bid to claw back the deficit.
Ginobili immediately made his presence felt, weaving through the Knicks' defense with a quick dribble and drawing a double-team. He dished the ball to a cutting Richard Jefferson for what seemed like an easy layup. But before the ball could kiss the glass, Lian Dao came soaring in, swatting the shot hard against the backboard and grabbing the rebound himself.
"No-fly zone!" Lian Dao roared, his energy radiating across the court. He quickly passed to Holiday, who pushed the tempo in transition and found Gallinari for a dunk.
On the other end, Ginobili struck back with one of his trademark slippery drives, using his snake-like movements to slip through defenders and finish a tricky reverse layup. Ginobili was living up to his reputation as a player who could create something magical out of nothing, but the Knicks remained unfazed. Under Lian Dao's leadership, they weren't allowing the Spurs to get close.
The next play saw Lian Dao bringing the ball up, drawing a double-team from Ginobili and Richard Jefferson. Though Ginobili wasn't physically strong enough to stop Lian Dao's drives, he managed to slow him down just enough for Jefferson to recover.
Lian Dao powered through the double-team, using his shoulder to clear space against Jefferson. Richard Jefferson, clearly hoping to draw a foul, braced for the contact but stayed upright. With his prior flagrant foul in mind, he didn't dare risk flopping. The refs might not have blown the whistle, and Lian Dao would have gone straight to the rim for an easy dunk.
So, Jefferson took the hit, but only after realizing too late just how painful it was. Lian Dao had earned a reputation for sending defenders—often larger ones—crashing to the ground with his sheer strength.
After creating space, Lian Dao mimicked one of Duncan's signature moves, using his elbow to create even more room. Jefferson grimaced in pain as his chest tightened, only for Lian Dao to then deliver another blow to his lower abdomen with the same elbow.
This kid plays dirty! Jefferson thought, but Lian Dao had already leaped for a dunk.
Fueled by frustration, Jefferson leaped up to block the shot, but as he ascended, he slyly raised his knee toward Lian Dao's midsection. Though Lian Dao anticipated some dirty play from Jefferson, he didn't have time to fully react in midair.
Instead, Lian Dao quickly adjusted, spinning away from Jefferson's knee and transitioning from a dunk to a layup.
Swish!
"Beep!"
2+1.
The referee hadn't seen Jefferson's sneaky knee-raise, but he had clearly caught Jefferson's arm hitting Lian Dao's during the block attempt. As Lian Dao landed, his face darkened in frustration. Jefferson's foul play was becoming a pattern. If I hadn't adjusted midair, I might have been seriously injured, Lian Dao thought, trying to shake off the anger.
But he didn't retaliate. He knew that's what the Spurs would want—to provoke him into throwing a punch and getting ejected. If he lost his cool, the Knicks would be in trouble. So, Lian Dao took a deep breath, steadied himself, and calmly sank the free throw.
Moments later, the Spurs had possession. Richard Jefferson cut toward the basket, receiving a perfectly-timed pass from Ginobili. Thinking he had finally slipped past Lian Dao, Jefferson went up for a layup, but in a flash, Lian Dao soared once more, blocking the shot with the force of a volleyball spike.
Whap!
The ball exploded off Lian Dao's hand and rocketed straight into Jefferson's face. In slow motion, you could see the ball compressing Jefferson's nose, distorting his face from the sheer impact. Blood immediately poured from his nose as he collapsed to the floor, lying motionless.
In the locker room, Chris Duhon had been watching the game on TV while nursing his injury with ice. As he saw Jefferson get smacked in the face by the ball, Duhon's eyes welled with emotion. Lian Dao didn't just block that shot; he avenged me, Duhon thought, his respect for Lian Dao deepening.
While part of Lian Dao's decision to smash the ball into Jefferson's face was indeed for Duhon, most of it was payback for the dirty tactics Jefferson had tried on him moments before.
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