Capítulo 139: Appreciation from Jerry Sloan
In the fourth quarter, Millsap pulled Boozer beyond the three-point line, while Lian Dao relentlessly attacked the Jazz's interior defense, scoring layups or drawing fouls with each confrontation.
Kirilenko, known as AK-47, struggled to contain Lian Dao's aggressive drives. Despite Kirilenko's reputation as one of the best defenders, he found himself overwhelmed, unable to stop Lian Dao's superior strength and speed.
This left Jerry Sloan with a significant dilemma. If even Kirilenko couldn't handle Lian Dao, he would need to consider double-teaming him. However, Sloan remained resolute, insisting that Kirilenko take on the challenge alone.
Ultimately, Sloan's confidence was put to the test as Lian Dao began to tire in the second half of the fourth quarter. At a critical moment, Millsap unexpectedly missed a shot from the outside.
With David Lee tightly guarded by Okur, Lian Dao struggled to find his rhythm. His three-point shooting percentage dropped as fatigue set in, allowing the Jazz to gradually extend their lead through Sloan's effective pick-and-roll tactics and their dominance inside.
As the game concluded, the Knicks fell to the Jazz, 98-105, suffering their first defeat of the season and ending their winning streak. The Jazz, meanwhile, snapped their own losing streak.
Lian Dao finished the game with impressive stats: 28 points, 13 assists, and 7 rebounds. Millsap, on the other hand, achieved a double-double with a game-high 36 points and 11 rebounds, marking a new career high.
During the post-game interview, Lian Dao was frequently asked whether he felt restricted by the Jazz's defense and if he had encountered the infamous rookie wall. He acknowledged the strength of the Jazz's defense, noting that while Kirilenko couldn't stop him, their two interior defenders were formidable. Whenever he penetrated the lane, the defense would collapse around him, leaving him with little chance to score. This quick response from the Jazz defense, combined with Lian Dao's lackluster outside shooting early in the game, contributed to his struggles.
He candidly admitted that he hadn't played well in this match.
However, he was taken aback by Jerry Sloan's high praise for him during the Jazz press conference. When reporters inquired about his evaluation of Lian Dao, Sloan praised him without hesitation. He commended Lian Dao's offensive decision-making and defensive capabilities, declaring him one of the most promising rookies in recent years.
Lian Dao was surprised by this acknowledgment. If it had come from Popovich, he wouldn't have batted an eye—after all, Popovich often flatters opponents before delivering a harsh critique. Many fans would then laud Popovich for his insights, but Lian Dao saw through it, considering it a typical ploy.
In his view, Popovich wasn't as brilliant as some might think. When he first took over as head coach of the Spurs, his strategy was simply to give the ball to Duncan and ride his coattails for over a decade. It was only when the tide turned that the reality of the situation became clear.
Tyronn Lue might think he's on the same level as Popovich, but to be honest, Jerry Sloan was unlikely to indulge in such games. The veteran coach was known for his stubbornness and toughness; he wouldn't offer praise unless it was truly deserved.
In an interview with a reporter from "Sports Illustrated," Sloan was asked why he rarely praised players. He bluntly replied, "Haven't they already been paid? This industry is different from others, and the salaries are much higher. As a former player, I know that a successful player must deliver on the court."
For Lian Dao, hearing such praise from a coach as tough as Sloan was genuinely surprising.
The Knicks' defeat sent the media into a frenzy. Reporters speculated that facing a strong team had exposed the Knicks' shortcomings and questioned whether Lian Dao could maintain his previous level of performance. Some even suggested that he had hit the rookie wall and that other teams had figured out how to counter his game.
However, no one considered that the Knicks had finished at the bottom of the league last season.
This season, they've managed to beat the Heat, overcome the Cavaliers, and even hold their ground against the Jazz until the first half of the next quarter. Isn't that enough?
Surely the media knows this. But if they wrote it that way, who would want to read it? For casual fans, it's all about novelty, and sensationalizing the narrative captures the most attention.
Best of all, it stirs up heated discussions among everyone!
As expected, the next day's news was also negative for Lian Dao.
One headline read, "The Jazz ended the Knicks' winning streak; Sickle scored only 28 points in the game."
When his little senior sister showed him the newspaper, Lian Dao couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.
When did the NBA set such high standards for rookies that the word "only" could be used to describe 28 points?
Before, rookies could average 20 points per game, and the media praised them to the skies. Yet now, when he scores 28 points, the future is deemed hopeless?
"Don't take it to heart," the little senior sister said, rubbing her temples. "Your previous performance was extraordinary. This time, you faced a strong opponent and returned to normal; they're just making a big fuss over nothing."
"I didn't take it to heart. I know my own level," Lian Dao replied, nodding. He didn't take it seriously; the experience of his two lives had taught him too much about the media.
Moreover, no one knows his level better than he does. The current evaluation given by the system helps him maintain a clear understanding of his strength.
Still, he couldn't help but feel the urge to complain after reading these articles.
This competition served as a wake-up call for Lian Dao. His excellent performance in the previous games had caused his mentality to fluctuate, making him a little impetuous and arrogant.
Upon reflection, he realized he hadn't practiced for a week, only completing the two-hour immersive training in the system space at night.
He felt somewhat like Jennings from history.
Recognizing this issue, Lian Dao began to make changes.
He discussed his training plan with his personal trainer, Chris Brickley. They decided to keep the original inside footwork and mid-range shooting training unchanged while adding physical training, multi-player confrontation shooting drills, and double-team breakthrough exercises.
The game against the Jazz had exposed his lack of shooting stability under pressure, which was the area he needed to improve the most.
Now that almost all the teams in the league knew about Lian Dao, he wouldn't have as many open opportunities as before. The game against the Jazz clearly illustrated this, emphasizing the need for improved shooting stability.
Beyond the games, Lian Dao transformed into a dedicated workhorse in the training facility. He arrived at the arena at 6 a.m. and left at 10 p.m.
He had previously tried training at 4 a.m. every day but found that his body wasn't recovering well, so he opted to wake up at 5:30 a.m. each day to arrive at 6 a.m. While he couldn't manage 4 a.m. training sessions every day in Los Angeles, 6 a.m. was still feasible.
In fact, Kobe didn't train at four o'clock in the morning every day, as he noted in later interviews.
During one of his training sessions, Lian Dao and Wilson had gone to a bar and were unexpectedly photographed. It was unclear whether a reporter had taken the photo secretly or if it had been obtained through other means.
The reporter then published the photo along with a story.
Fortunately for Lian Dao, he had been drinking fruit juice at the bar and hadn't been accompanied by any women. Since he preferred to keep to himself, he had been alone near the outside bar, so only he appeared in the candid photos.
Despite this, he still faced criticism from the media.
Lian Dao could only shake his head and smile wryly at the situation. Meanwhile, Wilson Chandler, the unreliable companion, had chosen a bar with such poor privacy, leading the whole team to give him special training.
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