Chapter 62
Chapter 62: Talking to the Coach
On the 16th, the Utah Jazz arrived in New York and held media interviews at their hotel.
"Karl, you'll be facing Zhao Dong. Are you looking forward to this matchup?" a reporter asked.
Karl Malone raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion. "Zhao Dong? I've heard of the Rain Man being called 'The Ruler,' but who's this 'Yellow Ruler'? Are there even any yellow players in this league?"
The room erupted into laughter as Jazz players and some reporters chuckled at the remark.
Back in his dormitory, Zhao Dong watched the interview on TV. He wasn't surprised by Malone's comments—he knew the Postman all too well. From high school to the end of his career, Malone had made a name for himself by throwing elbows at countless opponents. Zhao Dong couldn't help but wonder if all those elbows had affected Malone's character.
Despite being one of the league's greats, Malone never won a championship, even after joining the Lakers' star-studded lineup. Zhao Dong felt a mix of pity and amusement as he thought about Malone and Patrick Ewing—both victims of Michael Jordan's dominance. Ewing had been eliminated by Jordan five times in four playoffs, while Malone's losses in the Finals directly contributed to Jordan's second three-peat.
Watching Malone on TV, Zhao Dong realized one of his own shortcomings: he didn't use his elbows enough when dealing with double-teams.
"Maybe if I use my elbows like Malone and Stockton, I could clear some space more effectively," he muttered.
Suddenly, with a soft ding, the system screen appeared in front of him.
Superstar Sniper Mission:
Host, in response to Karl Malone's provocation, you must deliver a strong counterattack.
Mission Options:
Achieve a stat line of 30+10+5 in this game.
Block Malone five times.
If elbowed by Malone, retaliate immediately. Failure to retaliate will result in a random deduction of 10 skill points.
Limit Malone's shooting percentage to below 35%.
Successfully defend against the Jazz's pick-and-roll five times.
Attempt at least 15 shots during the game.
Mission Reward:
Complete all objectives to receive Karl Malone's strength-based talent.
System Note:
To protect the host, injury resistance in this game will be temporarily increased to level 100. The effects are as follows:
100% immunity to fatal injuries.
99% immunity to severe injuries.
90% immunity to moderate injuries.
80% immunity to minor injuries.
Zhao Dong stared at the mission options, stunned.
"System, are you kidding me? You expect me to put up 30+10+5 against Malone? He's one of the league's top defenders, and he'll probably have help defense too! What do you take me for—Michael Jordan?"
The system, as always, remained silent.
Grumbling, Zhao Dong began analyzing the mission objectives. He quickly noticed some patterns. For instance, the fifth objective seemed to hint at the system's dissatisfaction with his low shot attempts in recent games, nudging him to be more aggressive.
"Looks like I'll have to push myself to the limit," Zhao Dong muttered, steeling himself for the challenge ahead.
Chapter 62: Talking to the Coach
Zhao Dong was growing increasingly frustrated with Patrick Ewing's untouchable status within the Knicks. The franchise's unwavering loyalty to their aging star was evident—Ewing was nearly 35, yet the management wouldn't even consider trading him for a prime Shaquille O'Neal. This reverence extended to Ewing's increased shot attempts in recent games. No one—be it Coach Jeff Van Gundy, the staff, the management, or the fans—objected.
But what if Zhao Dong tried to increase his own shot attempts? He could already foresee the backlash.
Zhao Dong had been avoiding direct conflict with Ewing, but the system seemed to be nudging him toward confrontation, hinting at missions that might require him to take more shots in the future.
"Fine," Zhao Dong muttered to himself. "If it comes to it, I'll fight Ewing for the shots. Worst case, I'll get traded. At least I'll have a job elsewhere—and on a weaker team, I might even become the leader."
With that thought, his resolve hardened.
"System, is this injury immunity a one-time effect for this task, or is it permanent at level 100?" he asked.
"It's a permanent effect of level 100," the system replied.
Zhao Dong's eyes lit up. "That's amazing! If I can push my injury resistance to level 100, my career will be practically injury-proof. I need to focus on improving that."
As he mulled this over, the system issued another mission:
Superstar Sniper Mission:
Steal the ball from John Stockton three times.
Block John Stockton three times.
Quest Reward:
Complete all mission options to gain John Stockton's elite passing skills.
Zhao Dong frowned. Both objectives seemed daunting. Stealing the ball from a legendary point guard like Stockton three times, especially as a big man, was an enormous challenge.
The next morning, on the 17th, Zhao Dong woke up early and ran a grueling five-kilometer distance. After resting for an hour and having breakfast, he made a decision and called Coach Van Gundy.
"Coach, I'd like to talk to you," Zhao Dong said.
Van Gundy, who had just arrived at the team headquarters, replied, "Of course, Feilong. Come by anytime."
"I have three hours of training first. I'll come by around noon," Zhao Dong said.
"Alright." Van Gundy hung up and turned to assistant coach Tom Thibodeau. "Feilong wants to talk. I have a feeling it's about his shot attempts. The media has been targeting him for not shooting enough recently—it's starting to become a real issue."
Thibodeau nodded thoughtfully. "To stabilize his development, we need to prioritize his low-post offense. Ewing may want more shots, but Feilong is the future of this team. He deserves a consistent role."
Van Gundy sighed. "It's tough. There's only so much ball to go around. If Feilong gets more shots, someone else gets fewer—and Ewing's requests are non-negotiable."
After completing nearly three hours of ball-handling drills, Zhao Dong set off for the Knicks' headquarters, arriving just after noon. He met with Van Gundy and Thibodeau, and the three decided to continue their discussion over lunch at a nearby restaurant.
Once they were seated, Van Gundy got straight to the point. "Feilong, what's on your mind?"
"Coach," Zhao Dong began, his tone firm, "I need the team to guarantee me at least 15 shot attempts per game."
Van Gundy and Thibodeau exchanged knowing glances. They had expected this conversation.
Zhao Dong continued firmly, "Fifteen attempts aren't too much to ask for as the team's main power forward. Especially when Ewing doesn't go into the paint, my low-post offense is essential—whether it's scoring from the block or creating opportunities with my presence."
Van Gundy nodded thoughtfully. "I understand, and I also want your shot attempts to stabilize around fifteen. Ewing's increased attempts are likely temporary. As the core of this team, he has to recognize that team stability is the priority."
"That would be ideal," Zhao Dong replied calmly. "I want the team to stay stable as well."
After a moment of reflection, Van Gundy added, "Alright, I'll implement some offensive tactics to increase your opportunities—like flank actions, high pick-and-roll plays, and weak-side back cuts. These should help boost your attempts."
Zhao Dong, however, felt a twinge of dissatisfaction. While he appreciated the increased focus on him, the proposed tactics were off-ball plays. His primary role remained low-post isolation, fast breaks, or second-chance points—situations where he rarely had true control of the ball.
The promise of more shot attempts was a step forward, but the lack of offensive dominance and tactical status was not what he envisioned when he signed with the team.
Still, Zhao Dong decided to take things one step at a time. Ewing's influence within the Knicks was too entrenched to challenge directly. For now, he would focus on securing consistent shot opportunities, with plans to eventually push for more control and dominance in the team's offense.
(End of Chapter)
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