Chương 98: Trial Training

Lian Dao's trial training took place at the training arena within Madison Square Garden.

The New York Knicks placed significant importance on this session. General Manager Donnie Walsh, Head Coach Mike D'Antoni, and Al Harrington—who had been traded from the Warriors at the start of the season—were all present.

As Lian Dao entered, all eyes were on him, including those of D'Antoni and Walsh. Some players naturally command the spotlight, and Lian Dao was no exception.

Today's trial training was a special event, dedicated solely to Lian Dao. This session was divided into two parts: non-confrontation and confrontation training.

Non-confrontation training covered basic skills such as shooting, passing, dribbling through obstacles, and catching and shooting or dunking.

Confrontation training involved more competitive drills, including one-on-one and three-on-three matchups.

Lian Dao breezed through the non-confrontation portion of the trial training. His three-point shooting was nearly flawless, even surprising D'Antoni despite the coach having seen game footage of Lian Dao.

Lian Dao's passing also caught D'Antoni's attention. Although his passing wasn't yet at the level of Steve Nash's, the agility and precision demonstrated hinted at considerable potential.

In the confrontation phase, D'Antoni was thoroughly impressed.

The Knicks had Al Harrington match up one-on-one against Lian Dao. On the very first play, Lian Dao executed a lightning-quick drive, easily bypassing Harrington and finishing with a dunk at the basket.

Harrington barely had time to react before Lian Dao scored. The move stunned D'Antoni and prompted a knowing shrug from Donnie Walsh.

Despite hearing about Lian Dao's abilities, D'Antoni had been skeptical. However, this display of skill validated Walsh's praise. Harrington, visibly embarrassed and frustrated, stepped up his defensive effort for the next play but was still outmaneuvered by Lian Dao. Another swift change of direction and acceleration led to another dunk.

Lian Dao's ability to handle the ball with his exceptionally long wingspan made it difficult for Harrington to defend effectively. After this second play, Harrington no longer saw Lian Dao as just a rookie.

Al Harrington had been on high alert for Lian Dao's lightning-fast drives, but Lian Dao caught him off guard with a three-pointer on his third attempt.

Thanks to Grant Hill's breakthrough skill package and the "Fastest First Step" badge, Lian Dao's ability to score from deep was significantly enhanced.

On his fourth attempt, Lian Dao positioned himself beyond the three-point line and faked a shot. Harrington, reacting like a startled bird, leapt into the air.

Lian Dao calmly pulled the ball back and watched as Harrington floated in mid-air. With a smooth dribble past Harrington, he effortlessly nailed another three-pointer.

On the court, it seemed like the roles were reversed, with Al Harrington looking more like the rookie in a trial than Lian Dao.

D'Antoni and Donnie Walsh exchanged wry smiles as they watched. Harrington, originally there to test players' strengths, was now on the receiving end of what felt like unilateral abuse.

D'Antoni initially considered calling a timeout but hesitated when he saw Lian Dao's fifth attempt—this time, he decided to play with his back to the basket.

D'Antoni had heard about Lian Dao's impressive strength and had seen scouting reports praising his capabilities. However, even the most talented NCAA players often struggle against seasoned veterans in strength matchups. He was keen to see how Lian Dao, known for his physical prowess, would fare in this situation.

Al Harrington was clearly frustrated by Lian Dao's relentless performance.

It wasn't enough that Lian Dao was hitting shots from outside and blowing past him with speed—now he was overpowering him with raw strength. Harrington thought, What's next, a dunk from beyond the three-point line?

Determined to put Lian Dao in his place, Harrington set out to teach him a lesson. He tightened his defense, hoping to remind the rookie of his place.

But his efforts were in vain. Lian Dao's unusual strength was too much for him to handle. Harrington found himself being pushed back toward the basket, unable to maintain his position. Lian Dao took advantage of this, driving to the hoop and finishing with a smooth layup.

At that point, D'Antoni blew the whistle. It was clear that continuing the drill would only risk further aggravating Al Harrington.

Although the Knicks lack an All-Star player at the moment, Al Harrington's performance this season has been notable, averaging 20.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. While the Knicks' lack of a core player may have contributed to this, Harrington's ability to score 20 points per game still highlights his strength.

Lian Dao's dominance in the trial training was evident from the 5:0 scoreline, showcasing his exceptional ability.

After the trial training, D'Antoni and Donnie Walsh invited Lian Dao and Guo Yuwei to dinner. Originally, Al Harrington was also invited, but after his frustrating experience with Lian Dao, he declined the invitation.

During dinner, D'Antoni was open about his interest in Lian Dao. They discussed various aspects of basketball strategy, including USC's running and bombing tactics and the "elevator door" plays used in the finals. Despite Lian Dao's relative inexperience compared to D'Antoni, his forward-thinking insights about league developments impressed the coach, highlighting Lian Dao's deep understanding of the game.

Lian Dao also emphasized the importance of establishing a defensive system and rotating the lineup effectively. He shared his own views openly, not concerned about whether D'Antoni would take them into account. After all, it was just a casual dinner conversation, and Lian Dao was not yet a Knicks player.

With the New York trial training concluded, Lian Dao rested for the night at Tianyi Pavilion before moving on to his next trial.

After the meal, D'Antoni and Donnie Walsh returned to the Knicks general manager's office.

"Improved again?" Donnie Walsh asked, puzzled. "I thought he was supposed to be hiding his clumsiness."

D'Antoni shook his head with a wry smile. "That's because the scouts didn't fully grasp his capabilities. If they had watched his game videos more closely, they'd see that he's far more skilled than they realized. It's clear that this young man has been working hard since the finals."

D'Antoni continued, "By the way, I heard he had a training camp recently, and the reputation was quite good. It's evident that he's been training harder than we anticipated. His potential is definitely greater than we initially thought!" He spoke with the enthusiasm of a miner who had just discovered gold.

"Donnie, if we end up with him, our disappointing season might be considered a success," D'Antoni added, visibly excited.

Donnie Walsh shook his head, tempering the optimism. "It's still too early to make any claims. We won't know the outcome until the lottery on May 10. Remember, Commissioner David Stern is quite disappointed with the Knicks. I'm not sure what will happen with the lottery results."

Walsh sighed, clearly frustrated. The Knicks' issues were proving difficult to resolve.

David Stern had long wanted to revitalize New York's enormous basketball market. However, the Knicks had repeatedly let him down with chaotic management and a pile of problematic contracts. By 2007, Stern was openly critical of James Dolan, stating, "They haven't managed the team intelligently."

It's clear how disillusioned Stern is with the Knicks. Whether he's willing to give them another chance this time remains uncertain.