章 155: On The Road
According to the post-game statistics, Lian Dao once again put up impressive numbers, surpassing the 30-point mark. To be precise, he recorded a 34-point, 16-assist, 5-rebound, 3-steal, and 2-block performance. Notably, he achieved these stats in just three quarters, with his points and assists being the highest of the game.
At this stage, if opponents don't double-team Lian Dao, he consistently scores 30+ points. When they do apply double pressure, his assist numbers climb even higher. He tends to exploit double-teams to create scoring opportunities for his teammates unless they are struggling with their shots. In those situations, he takes over the offense, even under tight defense.
After the game, players from both teams exchanged handshakes. Lian Dao met Taj Gibson, his old college teammate. Since joining the Suns, Gibson has been coming off the bench behind Stoudemire but has been getting significant minutes. Gibson's strong defense and skilled post play have earned him praise from Suns coach Alvin Gentry, making him an essential piece of the team's rotation.
Lian Dao felt relieved seeing his former "big brother" thriving in the NBA. He had worried that Gibson's path might have been negatively altered by the changes in his own journey, but it seemed Gibson was on the right track.
Coach D'Antoni praised his team's performance after the game, especially highlighting how they managed to end their losing streak. However, the media seemed largely indifferent to Lian Dao's 30+ games at this point. It was only on days when he didn't hit that mark that they paid attention.
After the Suns game, the Knicks embarked on their next road trip, with back-to-back games against the Orlando Magic and the Atlanta Hawks.
December had been brutal for the Knicks, with 15 games crammed into the month. The tight schedule meant a string of back-to-back games, and players were left exhausted. In the game against Orlando, the Knicks faced an uphill battle. The Magic held the top record in the Eastern Conference and were in excellent form.
Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis formed a formidable frontcourt duo, with Lewis stretching defenses as a three-point threat, averaging 7 attempts per game at a 39.7% clip last season. In the offseason, the Magic also added Vince Carter, who teamed up with Jameer Nelson and Matt Barnes to create a potent perimeter shooting force. Coach Stan Van Gundy's "four-out, one-in" system, with Howard dominating the paint, was firing on all cylinders.
However, the Knicks had no real answer for Howard. Lian Dao mused privately that he could ask Yao Ming for advice on how to handle him, as Yao had successfully exploited Howard's weaker lower body strength in the past, often outmuscling him for rebounds.
On the other hand, the Magic had no answer for Lian Dao. Whenever Howard stepped up to defend Lian Dao's drives, it left David Lee and Millsap open for easy looks, which Lian Dao effortlessly facilitated with his precise passing. And of course, Lian Dao himself had his fair share of highlight-reel dunks, even making Howard look helpless at times.
Vince Carter, watching the young star's explosive athleticism, couldn't help but reflect on his own younger self. Once known as "half-man, half-god," Carter had soared to similar heights until knee surgeries—infamously known as the "genius killer"—robbed him of his extraordinary leaping ability. Carter smiled wryly as Lian Dao reminded him of the fearless player he used to be.
At the end of the game, the Knicks fell to the Magic 106-114. During the post-game handshake, Carter hesitated but eventually offered some advice to Lian Dao. "As someone who's been there, let me give you a piece of advice: don't dunk too much. Not everyone plays clean defense."
Lian Dao nodded in appreciation, but replied confidently, "Thanks, Vince. I'll stay safe. But if they want to mess with me, they better be ready for the ICU."
Carter was taken aback for a moment, but then recalled the stories of how Lian Dao had sent two players to the hospital with his physical play. It was clear this rookie wasn't someone to be trifled with.
With their loss to Orlando, the Knicks now stood at 13 wins and 6 losses, with just one game left on the road trip—the Atlanta Hawks.
The Hawks, looking back from 2022, were brimming with talent during the 2009-10 season. Their roster boasted Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Josh Smith, and Al Horford, with a strong bench featuring Jeff Teague, Jamal Crawford, and Zaza Pachulia. Despite all this talent, they had never made it past LeBron James and the Cavaliers, suffering several 4-0 playoff sweeps.
The Knicks' game against the Hawks started poorly, with Atlanta jumping out to a 12-0 lead. However, after regrouping, the Knicks quickly hit two three-pointers and managed to take the lead by the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw the Knicks extend their advantage, with Lian Dao playing the entire period and helping spark a 12-2 run. By halftime, the Knicks led the Hawks 64-51.
In the third quarter, D'Antoni rested Lian Dao, feeling confident in their 13-point lead. However, the Hawks took advantage of his absence, with Zaza Pachulia and Joe Johnson leading a comeback. D'Antoni had to bring Lian Dao back into the game in the final four minutes of the quarter, and he immediately stabilized things with a powerful dunk. Yet the Hawks still managed to claw back and take a one-point lead, 84-83, going into the fourth.
With the game on the line, the Knicks returned to their full starting lineup. Joe Johnson and Al Horford were both shut down by tight defense from Lian Dao and Millsap, and the Knicks mounted a full-court press to regain the lead. In the final minutes, they secured a 121-107 victory.
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