Chương 125: 5 Consecutive Victories
Even the journalists struggled to keep track of how many records Lian Dao had shattered.
Lian Dao responded, "This game felt a lot like my debut back in college. But I have to give credit to my teammates. Without their support, I wouldn't have had such a perfect start, let alone beaten the Heat by such a big margin."
Coach D'Antoni watched Lian Dao with satisfaction, pleased not only with his on-court performance but also with how he handled the press. Before the conference, D'Antoni had been concerned that nerves might lead Lian Dao to say the wrong thing, but he was now secretly impressed by the young player's composure and high emotional intelligence.
Lian Dao's performance quickly became the topic of heated discussions across the United States.
"Shocking debut, the best in history!"
"40+20+10: A record-breaker emerges!"
Even the New York Times devoted significant coverage to Lian Dao's game.
Knicks fans were thrilled yet slightly disappointed. Thrilled because, after so many years, they finally had hope for a Knicks resurgence. Disappointed because this legendary performance had taken place on the road, leaving them unable to witness it in person. To make matters worse, the next game was also an away game.
In China, the media buzzed with headlines like "40+20+10: The Future NBA Star!" praising Lian Dao's incredible debut.
Back at the hotel, Lian Dao was flooded with congratulatory messages. Among them was a text from Yao Ming, who was delighted to see his "little brother" make such an incredible debut.
Members of the 2009 rookie class also reached out. James Harden sent his congratulations while still leading a group of substitutes in practice. Steph Curry expressed his admiration for Lian Dao's legendary performance.
DeMar DeRozan, now a starter with the Timberwolves and complementing Kevin Love well, had posted an impressive 15+5 in his debut. Originally, DeRozan had hoped to boast about his performance to Lian Dao. But when he learned about Lian Dao's 40+20+10 game, he was left stunned.
DeRozan congratulated Lian Dao, feeling a mix of admiration and disbelief. He had hoped to surpass Lian Dao in their NBA debuts but found himself completely overshadowed. While others in the rookie class were still finding their footing, Lian Dao had already established himself as a team's core, a reality that left many of his peers questioning their own confidence.
Meanwhile, Jermaine O'Neal, recovering in a Miami hospital, was fuming with rage after seeing the media coverage of Lian Dao's performance.
"Apocalypse," he muttered, glaring at Lian Dao's smiling face on the TV during an interview. It felt as though Lian Dao was mocking him through the screen. Overcome with anger, O'Neal lashed out, punching the TV.
A loud crack echoed through the room as the TV shattered on impact.
"Ahh!"
O'Neal's fist was left with a deep gash, exposing the bone. Blood splattered everywhere, and the room filled with the smell of burning electronics. The on-duty doctor rushed in after hearing the commotion, only to find O'Neal hastily unplugging the TV. The doctor quickly escorted O'Neal to the emergency room.
The next day, the Miami Heat received troubling news: Jermaine O'Neal had suffered a fractured phalanx and burns from an electric shock. His recovery would take at least three months. When the Heat management first heard about the electric shock, they assumed it was due to some off-court incident. But after learning the true cause, they were left speechless. Was Lian Dao O'Neal's nemesis?
Following this, Lian Dao and the Knicks traveled to Charlotte to face the Bobcats. The Knicks secured a dominant victory, defeating the Bobcats 119-102 without much resistance.
Notably, during the game in Charlotte, a familiar figure—known as "Braised Egg"—was spotted in the audience. However, by the fourth quarter, he left early, unable to watch the one-sided match any longer. He even joked to himself that if circumstances allowed, he would've taken off his suit and stepped onto the court. At 46, he believed he could still play better than the Bobcats' players.
By the start of the fourth quarter, the Bobcats were already trailing by 30 points. Gerald Wallace struggled to contain Lian Dao, who continuously broke through their defense. Despite Larry Brown's efforts to build a solid defensive lineup, nothing worked. In desperation, Brown resorted to triple-teaming Lian Dao, but even that failed to stop him. Lian Dao, in top form, kept driving to the basket and throwing down dunks.
Lian Dao finished the game with another triple-double: 37 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds. Gerald Wallace, meanwhile, was held to a dismal 2-for-15 shooting performance, scoring only 4 points and grabbing 5 rebounds.
With this victory, the Knicks started the new season with two consecutive wins. Lian Dao's back-to-back triple-double performances sent Knicks fans into a frenzy, and his popularity soared past that of David Lee. Before Lian Dao's arrival, David Lee was the most beloved player on the Knicks. Now, it was all about Lian Dao!
With the momentum from their first two wins, the Knicks returned to their home court, eager to continue their winning streak. Their next games were against the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Orleans Hornets, and the Indiana Pacers.
Fortunately, aside from the Miami Heat, the Knicks didn't face any powerhouse teams in their first five games. In the matchup against the 76ers, Lian Dao got a firsthand experience of Andre Iguodala's defense. Although Iguodala was formidable, he couldn't contain Lian Dao's offensive prowess.
Lian Dao's scoring range was simply too vast. He dazzled the crowd at Madison Square Garden with two logo three-pointers, electrifying the atmosphere. His ability to seamlessly switch between long-range shooting and lightning-fast drives to the basket made him nearly impossible to defend.
The Knicks triumphed over the 76ers with a 126-114 victory. Lian Dao narrowly missed a triple-double, finishing with 39 points, 14 assists, and 8 rebounds.
In the following game, the Knicks faced the New Orleans Hornets and secured a 112-98 win. Chris Paul was closely marked by Chris Duhon, and David West was relentlessly double-teamed by Millsap and Lian Dao. This game showcased Duhon's defensive talents—while his offense might have been average, his defense was exceptional.
With the Hornets' key players neutralized, their offensive output was significantly diminished. On the other hand, Lian Dao transformed into a playmaking maestro, racking up an incredible 26 assists. This performance marked the fourth-highest single-game assist total, trailing only Scott Skiles and John Stockton.
Lian Dao also recorded a triple-double in this game, with 26 points, 28 assists, and 13 rebounds. Despite having only played four games, Lian Dao's era was already making waves across the league.
The next challenge came against the Pacers, where the Knicks faced unexpected trouble. The team struggled with their shooting, falling behind by 23 points in the first half. Going into the second half, Coach D'Antoni gave Lian Dao the green light to take over offensively.
Lian Dao began the second half by hitting several three-pointers from beyond the arc, gradually finding his rhythm. He embodied the mindset of a determined shooter, famously captured in the words of a certain Los Angeles player: "I'd rather go 0-for-30 than 0-for-9. 0-for-9 means you've been beaten by yourself, overwhelmed by the game... the only explanation is that you've lost faith in yourself."
With his touch restored, Lian Dao continued to fire away, using his teammates' screens to create space for his shots. The Knicks clawed back into the game, and with two minutes left, they erased the deficit.
As the rest of the team found their groove, the Knicks completed a dramatic comeback, narrowly defeating the Pacers 107-103.
This game showcased the Knicks' resilience and determination. They were no longer the team that simply clocked in; they had developed a fierce hunger for victory.
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