Chapter 61
Chapter 61: Ball Handling Training
"Zhao Dong, you'll be facing the Jazz at home on the 17th and going up against Karl Malone. Are you ready?" a reporter asked.
Zhao Dong perked up at the mention of Malone. Beating him would undoubtedly trigger a task from the system. Smiling confidently, he replied, "He's a historical superstar, and yes, I'm ready."
"Are you afraid of him?" the reporter followed up.
"What?" Zhao Dong was momentarily surprised.
The reporter repeated, "Are you afraid of him?"
Zhao Dong chuckled and said, "On the basketball court, I fear no one, not even a god."
This bold statement was adapted from Allen Iverson's famous words. In March of the following year, Iverson faced Michael Jordan and nearly embarrassed him with two devastating crossovers. After the game, Iverson declared, "On the court, I don't have to respect or fear anyone, even if that person is a god."
Zhao Dong's remark immediately caused a stir among the media.
"Zhao, are you referring to Michael Jordan when you say 'god'?" a reporter asked directly.
Smiling calmly, Zhao Dong replied, "Does the current Jordan still qualify as a god? Even if he does, he's an unstable god, and someone will dethrone him."
"Are you saying you're the one to do it?" the reporter pressed further.
Zhao Dong responded with a rhetorical question, "If someone is going to take him down, why not me?"
The interview quickly made headlines, with Zhao Dong becoming the center of public attention.
In Chicago, upon hearing Zhao Dong's comments, Jordan maintained a steely expression during an interview. "I'll make that rookie regret crossing me," he said coldly.
A reporter then asked, "Michael, do you consider yourself the god of basketball? Or do you think, as Zhao Dong said, your status is still unstable?"
Jordan replied boldly, "I'll win another dynasty. Who can stop me? That big-mouthed rookie? What gives him the right to challenge me? Is he planning to cling to Ewing's coattails to stop me? I'll crush them both if I have to."
Jordan's remarks reached Charles Barkley, who wasted no time firing back. "Michael's talking too much, and I won't let him get what he wants," Barkley said. "Forget the second dynasty—we'll eliminate him this season."
The Knicks had three upcoming home games: the Warriors, Nuggets, and Jazz. On the 12th and 14th, the Knicks secured back-to-back victories against the visiting Warriors and Nuggets, improving their record to 18 wins and 3 losses.
In these two games, Patrick Ewing dominated the offense, attempting 25 shots in each game, while Zhao Dong only managed a combined 14 attempts. However, Ewing's performance was underwhelming. Against the Warriors, he shot just 6 of 20 from the field and made 1 of 2 free throws, scoring only 13 points. His efficiency was low, and his presence on the court lacked impact.
His performance against the Nuggets was slightly better, shooting 8 of 20 and 2 of 4 from the line to score 18 points.
Zhao Dong, on the other hand, faced increasing defensive pressure. The Warriors were the first team to double-team him, but only in the low post. Outside of the post, he faced single coverage. Despite this, he shot 6 of 13 and made 5 of 7 free throws, scoring a respectable 17 points.
The Nuggets, however, double-teamed Zhao Dong throughout the game, making it much harder for him to find his rhythm. He shot just 4 of 12 from the field and 4 of 6 from the line, finishing with only 12 points.
While the media spared Zhao Dong after the Warriors game, they were merciless following the Nuggets match.
"Is this the so-called yellow ruler? A lackluster performance like that proves he doesn't deserve to take the ball from Ewing, let alone lead the Knicks," wrote New York Sports News.
"If Zhao Dong represents the Knicks' future, then the Knicks have no future," another outlet declared.
The New York Times criticized harshly: "With such performances, how dare Zhao Dong claim he can dethrone Michael Jordan? This might be the biggest lie of the century." Similarly, the New York Economic Daily joined the fray. The media collectively attacked Zhao Dong after his underwhelming performance in two games, dragging him into a storm of criticism from New York's press.
Even Michael Jordan weighed in during an interview in Chicago. When asked about Zhao Dong, he sneered and said, "I said it before—when he faces double-teams, his true colors show. Does anyone still think he's the Knicks' future or a potential superstar? Some even think I left the Bulls because of him. No way. Our management simply didn't want him."
Jordan continued, "Team success is the ultimate test of strength, and right now, Zhao Dong is nothing. He needs to learn to respect players like us."
In Houston, Charles Barkley also chimed in smugly during his media appearance, adding fuel to the fire.
Amid the media chaos, Zhao Dong retreated to the training base to reflect on his performance in the last two games.
Self-Assessment:
1. Struggles Against Double-Teams
Zhao Dong admitted he wasn't accustomed to handling double-teams, often losing composure and making poor decisions. To counter this, he realized he needed to focus on jump shots at the low post rather than forcing his way to the basket, where he was easily trapped.
2. Inability to Draw Fouls
Against the Warriors, he had missed clear opportunities to draw fouls in the low post. Instead of attacking aggressively, he tried to avoid defenders, squandering chances to cause damage.
3. Weak Coordination and Finishing
His poor ability to change directions and evade defenders exposed a glaring weakness in his game. Additionally, his low-post finishing and overall offensive skills were not at the level required to perform effectively under pressure.
4. Issues at the High Post
When double-teamed at the high post, his lack of advanced skills made him less effective. Without a "gold medal" move like low-post singles, he found it even harder to contribute.
Zhao Dong concluded that his strength and skills were still insufficient. His immediate plan was to focus on low-post offense using his gold-standard skills to push through defenders. While this approach might consume more energy and increase the risk of injury, it was his best option until he improved other areas of his game.
Improvement Plan:
Physical Training: Focus on enhancing coordination, balance, flexibility, and core strength.
Skill Development:
Raise basic shooting skills to level 95.
Improve low-post skills, particularly hooks and floaters, to enhance finishing.
Continue refining mid-range pull-up shots to develop a reliable weapon from the outside.
On January 11th, at 3:00 AM, Zhao Dong completed his 30-day shooting training, raising his shooting level to 93. The system rewarded him with six skill points, less than competition rewards but consistent and reliable—a trade-off Zhao Dong gladly accepted.
Upon completing this task, the system issued his next training challenge:
Ball Control Training
For 30 consecutive days, Zhao Dong would need to practice controlled dribbling, fast dribbling, back-turn dribbling, front-change dribbling, and rhythm-changing dribbling for half an hour each day. The goal was to raise his ball-handling skills by three levels.
Zhao Dong estimated that, excluding game days, he could complete this task by the end of January.
(End of Chapter)
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