章 122: A Rookie’s Revenge
Before the game, most people believed that if Lian Dao could maintain an average of 20+ points per game this season, he was well on his way to becoming an All-Star player in the future. But when he scored 18 points in just the first quarter—only two points shy of that 20-point mark—those expectations suddenly seemed conservative.
Everyone in the arena knew that Lian Dao could easily score those remaining two points if he wanted to. The Heat fans, who had been skeptical of the rookie, now watched him on the Knicks bench with mixed emotions. They didn't expect such a dominant performance from him in his debut game. While they might not have liked the rookie yet, they couldn't deny his undeniable talent.
The short break between quarters ended, and the second quarter began. Lian Dao was given a few minutes of rest, as the outcome of the game was still uncertain. Coach D'Antoni knew that if Lian Dao ran out of gas in the fourth quarter, the Knicks might struggle to maintain their lead. So, Danilo Gallinari subbed in for Lian Dao, while Paul Millsap stayed on to lead the bench.
However, without Lian Dao, the Knicks' perimeter defense crumbled, and the team's dynamic on the court felt completely different. The 12-point lead they had built in the first quarter evaporated within seven minutes as the Heat tied the game. Seeing this, D'Antoni quickly adjusted and sent Lian Dao back into the game.
The Knicks' lineup at this point was Chris Duhon, Larry Hughes, Lian Dao, Danilo Gallinari, and Paul Millsap. Although this was technically a bench lineup, it was also the fastest lineup D'Antoni could field, and every player had the ability to hit three-pointers.
With the ball in his hands outside the three-point line, Lian Dao called for a pick-and-roll with Danilo Gallinari. Using the pick, Lian Dao quickly drove into the paint, immediately drawing the attention of Dwyane Wade, Michael Beasley, and Jermaine O'Neal. As the defense collapsed on him, Gallinari slipped back out to the three-point line.
Without hesitation, Lian Dao flicked the ball back to Gallinari, who was wide open for a three-pointer.
"Swish!"
The shot was perfect, and the Knicks regained the lead, 43-40.
This play was a classic D'Antoni tactic, reminiscent of his days with the Phoenix Suns. Back then, he had Steve Nash as the engine of the offense, a player capable of orchestrating such plays flawlessly. But when D'Antoni arrived in New York, he realized that he lacked a player with Nash's playmaking ability to execute this system. Even when Carmelo Anthony eventually joined the team, he was more of a scorer than a facilitator, making this style of play less effective.
Now, with Lian Dao showing flashes of being that elusive playmaker, D'Antoni's old tactics were starting to come alive once more.
The Heat launched their next attack, with Wade passing the ball to Michael Beasley. But as soon as Beasley caught the ball, he found himself trapped in a three-way double team by Lian Dao, Danilo Gallinari, and Paul Millsap. With three defenders converging on him, Beasley became flustered. He knew he needed to pass the ball quickly, but with his vision obstructed, he had to rely on his instincts to make the pass.
Unfortunately for Beasley, those instincts failed him. As he attempted to pass the ball out to the perimeter, Millsap anticipated the move and intercepted the pass mid-air. Without hesitation, Millsap fed the ball to Lian Dao, who immediately initiated a fast break.
Lian Dao sprinted down the court, dribbling past the half-court line, and noticed that no one from the Heat had managed to catch up. Without breaking stride, Lian Dao pulled up for a three-pointer from well beyond the arc.
*Swish!*
The ball sailed cleanly through the net, extending the Knicks' lead to 46-40. The Heat players were stunned. They couldn't believe Lian Dao would pull up for a three-pointer on a fast break instead of going for the more conventional layup or dunk.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was furious. His face turned livid as he shouted from the sidelines, "Are you guys on a shopping trip? Get back on defense, or get off the court!"
The Heat players could feel the intensity of Spoelstra's anger. Their expressions grew tense as they realized they needed to step up their game.
On the next possession, the Heat responded quickly. Wade used a pick-and-roll to slice through the Knicks' defense and finished with a powerful dunk. Without celebrating, he immediately hustled back on defense, setting the tone for his teammates.
But the Knicks wasted no time either. They quickly inbounded the ball and pushed the tempo once again. The Knicks' strategy was clear: play fast, and keep the Heat on their heels.
The Heat scrambled to get back on defense, with Wade taking on the task of guarding Lian Dao outside the three-point line. Lian Dao surveyed the court and spotted Larry Hughes in the corner, seemingly preparing to pass the ball to him. The Heat defenders, including Wade, shifted their focus to Hughes, anticipating the pass.
But the ball never reached Hughes. Instead, Lian Dao executed a sleight of hand, letting the ball drop just as he began to make the pass. In a quick, fluid motion, he half-turned and struck the falling basketball with his left elbow, redirecting it perfectly to Millsap, who was waiting under the basket.
Millsap, momentarily surprised by the unorthodox pass, quickly recovered and completed the play with an easy dunk.
The crowd, the Heat players, and even the commentators were left in disbelief.
"Oh my goodness! How did that ball end up in Millsap's hands?" one commentator exclaimed.
"That was an elbow pass! But even more creative than what we've seen from White Chocolate!" another added, referencing the legendary passer Jason Williams.
The replay showed how Lian Dao had executed the pass with such precision and flair, fooling everyone on the court.
As time wound down in the second quarter, the Knicks maintained their momentum, with the score at 60-52. Lian Dao's leadership and creativity had once again helped the Knicks establish an 8-point lead heading into halftime.
After the Heat inbounded the ball, Mario Chalmers quickly passed it to Dwyane Wade. However, Lian Dao anticipated the move and cut off the pass, immediately igniting a fast break for the Knicks.
As Lian Dao sped down the court, he found himself face-to-face with Jermaine O'Neal before crossing the center line. O'Neal quickly turned around and chased after Lian Dao, but Lian Dao's speed was too much for him to handle. As Lian Dao approached the basket for what seemed like an easy layup, O'Neal, desperate to stop him, reached out and grabbed Lian Dao's jersey, pulling him back forcefully.
Lian Dao, airborne and suddenly yanked backward, quickly realized the danger of an uncontrolled fall, which could easily result in a serious injury, possibly even a concussion. Furious and aware of O'Neal's dirty play, Lian Dao instinctively adjusted his body mid-air. As he twisted to regain control, he directed his elbow towards O'Neal's head, making it appear as though his body was out of control.
*Thud!*
"Ah!"
The impact was immediate. O'Neal felt a sharp pain as Lian Dao's elbow connected with his head. With a scream, O'Neal's vision went dark, and he collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Meanwhile, Lian Dao managed to cushion his fall with his palms, ending up face down on the court. The crowd, the players, and the officials were momentarily stunned as they processed what had just happened. O'Neal lay motionless on the floor, and for a terrifying moment, no one knew if he was seriously injured.
Wade and Paul Millsap were the first to react. Millsap rushed to Lian Dao, concerned for his teammate's well-being. After confirming that Lian Dao was unharmed, Millsap helped him up from the floor. Wade, on the other hand, quickly knelt beside O'Neal, trying to rouse him.
"Jermaine? What's wrong with you?" Wade called out, shaking his teammate gently.
But there was no response. Wade's worry deepened as he continued to call out O'Neal's name.
At this point, Paul Millsap leaned in close to Lian Dao, whispering, "Is he... gonna be okay?"
Meanwhile, the Heat players, realizing what had happened, began to react angrily.
"What did you do to him?" one player shouted at Lian Dao, his face contorted with rage. "You dirty bastard!"
Paul Millsap, not one to back down, shoved Quentin Richardson and retorted, "Shut up! He got hurt because he tried to take down Sickle. He deserved it!"
The situation quickly escalated as players from both teams began shoving each other. Chris Duhon, Larry Hughes, and Danilo Gallinari joined in, squaring off with the Heat players. Wilson Chandler even leaped off the bench, ready to rush into the fray, but Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni held him back, trying to prevent the situation from spiraling into an all-out brawl.
The referees quickly intervened, separating the players before the chaos could escalate further. Meanwhile, the medical staff rushed to O'Neal's side, checking his vitals. After a tense few moments, the doctor announced that O'Neal's heartbeat, breathing, and vital signs were normal. He had merely lost consciousness, likely due to a concussion.
As O'Neal slowly regained consciousness, the medical staff helped him sit up. Still dazed, he had to be escorted off the court for further concussion evaluation. The crowd, particularly the Miami fans, erupted in boos and jeers directed at Lian Dao.
"Get out, you executioner!"
"Miami doesn't welcome murderers!"
"You belong in prison!"
The hostility was palpable, but Lian Dao remained unfazed.
...
The referees reviewed the video of the incident on the big screen, which clearly showed O'Neal grabbing Lian Dao's jersey and trying to drag him down mid-air. Lian Dao's elbow strike, while appearing intentional, could be explained as a reaction to losing control after being fouled.
With the evidence clear, the referees made their ruling: a flagrant 1 foul against Jermaine O'Neal. The announcement silenced the angry fans, who now realized that O'Neal's injury was a result of his own unsportsmanlike actions.
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