Chapitre 21: The Regular Season Begins
Jay Sun replaced Waiters on the court, stepping in alongside LeBron.
For Jay, playing alongside LeBron was like wielding two powerful kings in a game of cards. All he needed to do was play the role of an off-ball shooter. After all, he had just unlocked Wade's card and hadn't fully developed his ball-handling skills.
By focusing on off-ball movements, both Jay and LeBron found their rhythm, creating a seamless synergy on the court.
Jay played the remaining five minutes of the first half, scoring two three-pointers out of three attempts and dishing out an assist.
Jay was quite satisfied with his performance, and LeBron seemed equally pleased. Watching Jay's smooth off-ball movement and shooting form, LeBron couldn't help but be reminded of his former teammate, Ray Allen.
During halftime, LeBron gave Jay an encouraging pat on the shoulder, further cementing their budding camaraderie.
Playing alongside LeBron gave Jay a firsthand appreciation of the superstar's unparalleled court vision and passing ability. For a player like Jay, who thrived off the ball, this partnership was a dream come true. Compared to his college teammate Randle, LeBron's ability to draw double-teams was on an entirely different level.
In those five minutes, Jay felt entirely at ease, and so did LeBron. It was a win-win situation.
LeBron sat out the second half, clad in his training gear, clearly signaling he wouldn't be returning to the game.
With LeBron off the court, Irving led the team. Jay initially thought of trying his hand at some ball-handling duties but quickly realized it wasn't the right time to challenge Irving's role. Respecting the team's hierarchy, Jay played off the ball, promptly passing when Irving demanded it.
Irving, for his part, didn't pay much attention to Jay. After all, Jay was just a late first-round rookie. Comparing him to a former first overall pick like Irving was laughable.
So, Jay stuck to his off-ball role—taking open shots when the opportunity arose and facilitating when needed. He even scored on a fast break with a simple layup.
The game ended with Jay tallying 18 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds while shooting 4-for-6 from three-point range.
After the game, Tyronn Lue had a one-on-one conversation with Jay. The coach praised Jay's playstyle and encouraged him to stay the course, assuring him that a starting role wasn't far off.
"After all," Lue explained, "we already have Irving, LeBron, and Love in the starting lineup. What we need isn't another ball-handler but a skilled off-ball player. You're perfect for that role."
On October 11, the Cavaliers faced the Miami Heat in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Despite the hype surrounding LeBron's reunion with his former team, he played the game in a laid-back manner.
Jay, however, continued to shine. He shot 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, finishing with 16 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds.
In both preseason games, Jay demonstrated his composure in crunch time, never hesitating to take clutch shots. While the media attributed it to his "big-game mentality," Jay knew better. It was the magic of his purple-tier Closer badge.
The Cavaliers played a few more preseason games, testing their chemistry and bench strength:
October 14 vs. Bucks: Jay went 2-for-5 from three, an average performance.
October 15 vs. Pacers: Fatigue hit hard, and Jay shot a dismal 1-for-4 from three, scoring just 9 points.
October 17 vs. Mavericks: After a day's rest, Jay bounced back with a 3-for-6 performance from deep, scoring 15 points.
But the grueling schedule began to wear on Jay. In games against the Bulls and Grizzlies on October 20 and 22, his performance dipped again.
Even his trusty Closer badge couldn't always save him. Unfortunately, Coach Lue didn't know about the badge's effects. Seeing Jay struggle in the first three quarters, Lue often benched him in the fourth.
Jay contemplated discussing it with Lue, but as a rookie, he lacked the confidence to assert himself.
Lue's decision wasn't unwarranted. In his view, if a player couldn't find their rhythm in three quarters, expecting them to excel in the fourth was unrealistic.
What Jay didn't realize was that Lue's actions were meant to protect him.
Frustrated yet determined, Jay channeled his energy into extra practice sessions after the preseason wrapped up. As a rookie, his immediate goals were modest: avoid underperforming in the first three quarters, secure consistent fourth-quarter minutes, and patiently wait for an opportunity to shine.
The Cavaliers opened their regular season at home against the New York Knicks. At this time, the Knicks were neither particularly strong nor notably weak. While they couldn't make the playoffs in the East, they still had Carmelo Anthony, making them a dangerous opponent.
On October 31, at the Quicken Loans Arena, the Knicks arrived for battle.
As the Cavaliers' starting lineup was introduced, the crowd erupted into cheers when LeBron's name was called. The ovation reached its peak when LeBron performed his iconic pregame chalk toss.
The sight of LeBron in his #23 jersey, with magnesium powder floating in the air, felt both nostalgic and refreshing.
Jay wasn't in the starting lineup. While he had started two preseason games, he knew those didn't count for much.
The Cavaliers started with Irving at point guard, Waiters at shooting guard, LeBron at small forward, Love at power forward, and Varejao at center.
Irving led the charge with his dazzling ball-handling, effortlessly breaking down Calderon's defense for an easy layup.
On the other end, Melo faced off against LeBron. Despite Anthony's scoring prowess, LeBron's defense proved formidable, forcing Melo into a missed jumper.
Jay watched from the bench as the starters exchanged blows. Both LeBron and Irving were aggressive, while Anthony remained the Knicks' primary scoring option.
After five minutes, the Knicks called a timeout, trailing by eight points. Tyronn Lue used the opportunity to sub in Jay for Waiters.
Jay couldn't hide his excitement as he stepped onto the court. "Finally! No more riding the bench!"
However, his first shot attempt clanked off the rim. Guarded by Iman Shumpert, missing was almost inevitable.
Jay quickly adapted, focusing on his off-ball movements. Using a series of screens, he freed himself at the top of the key, received a pass, and launched a shot.
Catch and Shoot activated, and the ball swished through the net.
Jay had just scored his first NBA points, and LeBron earned an assist.
As LeBron gave him an approving nod, Jay thought to himself: "We've got a bright future together."
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone