CHAPTER 1307: CHAPTER 529: AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLER’S FIRST DESCENT INTO DARKNESS (PART 2)

David Lee 15 points 11 boards, Wilson Chandler 12 points 7 boards, Chris Duhon off the bench with 7 points 4 assists, Al Harrington 12 points 5 boards 3 assists, Jared Jefferson 8 points 5 boards... Overall, pretty good performance.

But, Curry’s offense was tragic, and his defense was even worse!

Whenever he and Zhang Yang were on the court at the same time, Zhang Yang would call him out to play.

He had no room to struggle against that, only go hard and then get hammered.

To be honest, speaking of defensive coordination, Curry just fresh out of college hasn’t forgotten that much, he has solutions in mind, but the objective conditions won’t allow it!

NBA three-point distance is longer, there’s also the defensive three seconds rule; zone defense isn’t available in the NBA. It might look like similar defense, but only a few can do that relying purely on individual ability, like Garnett, Kirilenko, Howard, pre-injury and weight-loss Duncan.

And their Knicks Team couldn’t manage even the simplest wing trapping and interior block; McGrady and David Lee’s defense was basically just standing with hands on hips.

Step-back three, pull-up three, transition three... Zhang Yang faced Curry, tried every three-point shot he knew, and made 5 out of 9!

Adding his mid-range 2 out of 4, attack the basket 3 out of 5, free throws 5 out of 6, played 32 minutes, 18 shots, 10 made, easily scoring 30 points and clocking out after three quarters... When he has such efficiency, it’s hard for the Knicks to have any chance of winning.

At 10:21 PM, the game finished.

Bobcats took it easy on the Knicks 124 to 106, lifting their first month record to 13 wins and 4 losses!

Knicks Team record meanwhile fell to 7 wins and 11 losses, drifting away from a 50% win rate, little by little.

Actually, the Knicks started off pretty well this season.

Harden, David Lee, Wilson Chandler kept improving;

Curry is reckless, but his ability is indeed good, with an average of 2.6 threes a game; he handles constraint and shooting rights well, providing great help to Harden, whose ability isn’t yet outstanding;

Utility player Harrington, starter usually, sub when McGrady plays, did pretty well too, and there’s a decent group of bench players...

This year’s Knicks Team is no longer the team chasing the first draft pick from last season, they have the power to fight strong teams, even if Harden, Wilson Chandler keeps improving, Curry can be more stable by mid-season, there’s a chance they could reach a 50% win rate and enter the playoffs.

But facing an in-form Zhang Yang, many Knicks players don’t even think to struggle from their hearts, they just want to clock out... Harrington, who used to be the league’s most brainless player targeting Zhang Yang, after two years at Madison Square Garden, has been ’assimilated’ by the ’locals’...

...

Post-game, Felton and O’Neal took some teammates out partying at the nightclub, the next time they come to New York, it’ll be March.

Zhang Yang didn’t follow his teammates out for fun.

Tonight, O’Neal off the bench bullied the opponent’s lack of center, scored 20 points in 18 minutes, second-highest team scorer, partied at the basketball mecca, yelled to treat everyone, Zhang Yang politely declined.

The Big Shark’s party, Zhang Yang attended once in mid-month, it was too filthy, even enough to broaden Boss Qiao’s horizons, ’fortunately’ experienced a time, and that’s enough.

He returned to the hotel with the coaching staff, attended their end-of-month meeting, purely to join the fun, listen to the coaches’ review of the first-month performance.

Personally, he’s quite satisfied with the team’s performance this month.

wins 4 losses record looks good, average 106.1 points scored, average 98.7 points allowed, ranked fifth and eleventh in the league respectively.

Defense worsened compared to last season, but there are many objective conditions.

O’Neal made few appearances, played 12 out of 17 games, can’t defend past the three-second area and lacks focus, only defends fully against few opponents, not much defensive intent against most.

And as for stamina, O’Neal, nearing 38 years old, can’t maintain past glory, he could drag 165 kilograms weight, play 27-28 minutes per game, scoring 14+7 stats in the 06-07 season, but last season, playing the same time, weight was only 145 kilograms, currently around 155 kilograms, can’t hold too long, play full-out every night, after a few games retirement would be needed.

Zhang Yang is accepting of this since at least against Yao Ming, Howard, O’Neal defends earnestly with better low post defense than Perkins; do the best come playoffs, that’ll be fine.

Moreover, Marion is yet to find his form, can’t guard anyone; Ibaka after more playtime is showing basic skill deficiencies more blatantly.

These two points are also what they must bear now, they both have to ensure basic playtime, overall defensive efficiency inevitably affected.

Whereas other players, on the whole defensively, it’s alright; the trio, Afflalo, Millsap, Perkins, Hill, and the other 7 old players defense doesn’t lag behind last season;

The three rookies Collison, Cunningham are good team defenders, Matthews’ defensive enthusiasm is sufficient too.

As their offense compared to last season has enhanced, benefits of a complete defense system reflected this season.

As long as the trio, Millsap, Perkins these 5 core players’ form stays stable, newly joined players clicking speed will be fast eventually, faster than past seasons with new players joining.