Chapter 32: Speed and Stamina Improvement
"Zhao Dong, I'm very disappointed in your performance tonight. I gave you countless chances to pass the rebound, but you kept ignoring them. Why?" Coach Van Gundy confronted Zhao Dong after the game.
Though Van Gundy valued Zhao Dong's potential, he found the rookie's stubbornness increasingly frustrating. If this continued, he would have no choice but to limit Zhao Dong's playing time.
Zhao Dong replied bluntly, "Coach, I need more experience—failure included. Even setbacks are a form of growth for me. Trust me, my abilities will improve soon. Isn't this part of my training? I need this development."
Van Gundy stared at him for a long ten seconds before finally nodding. "I need you to play more rationally. You were in poor form today. If your shots aren't falling, pass the ball and let your teammates handle it. You have to understand that."
Zhao Dong sighed. "But, Coach, their shooting wasn't any better than mine."
Van Gundy was momentarily stunned, then snapped, "I'm talking about tactical rationality. You need to understand that, don't you?"
"Yes, Coach. I understand. Basketball is a team sport. I get it," Zhao Dong answered quickly.
Van Gundy softened his tone but maintained his seriousness. "Zhao Dong, you're still a rookie. Right now, you're not drawing double-teams, but as your skills improve, you'll face more defensive pressure, especially in the playoffs. You need to learn how to distribute the ball effectively. Share the load with your teammates and ease the pressure in the paint."
"Understood," Zhao Dong replied earnestly. "I just hope you can trust me more. Whether I play on or off the ball, I'll give my best on both offense and defense."
Van Gundy nodded. "The management has invested heavily in you. Naturally, I'll align with their vision. I'll design some plays to better integrate you into our system."
Zhao Dong couldn't help but smile. This meant his role within the team was about to grow.
Back in the locker room, good news awaited him. The Bulls had lost an away game to the Suns, who were playing without Charles Barkley. Jordan had an off-night, managing just 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists while committing six turnovers. His shooting percentage was abysmal, and he was called for three offensive fouls.
"Rookie, keep the pressure on Jordan," Charles Oakley joked, grinning at Zhao Dong.
"As long as he stays in the league, I'll keep up the pressure," Zhao Dong responded with a laugh.
Later at the hotel, Zhao Dong and Oakley, who were sharing a room, discussed the night's game.
"Zhao Dong, you were positioned closer to the basket than Patrick tonight, but your shooting percentage wasn't any better. That's because your finishing ability still needs work. You should focus on improving your offensive skills," Oakley advised.
"I know, Charles. Right now, I'm still focusing on mastering basic shooting techniques. I plan to finish this training within 20 days. After that, I'll start working on advanced offensive moves, like pull-up jumpers, straight-arm jump shots, and fadeaways," Zhao Dong explained.
Oakley nodded approvingly. "Good. You're on the right track. Keep at it, and you'll be unstoppable."
Chapter 32: Speed and Stamina Improvement
Oakley nodded thoughtfully. "I understand you want to expand your range, but Larry Johnson's performance is seriously declining. He came off the bench tonight, played 23 minutes, made 4 of 12 shots, and only recorded 12 points and 3 rebounds. The team needs your low-post offense."
"In the regular season, we might get by without my low-post game, but in the playoffs, especially against the Bulls, Houston won't be able to stop Jordan," Zhao Dong replied firmly.
Oakley fell silent for a moment. He couldn't deny Zhao Dong's point.
Zhao Dong continued, "As I've said before, my template is Barkley. I want to expand my game to the outside, not just stay in the low post. I want to face Jordan directly and beat him with my own hands."
Oakley looked at Zhao Dong's determined expression and sighed. This rookie was already dreaming of taking down Jordan himself. If only Ewing had this kind of fire, Oakley thought. The veteran center, despite his dominance, had never voiced such bold ambitions.
That night, as Oakley fell asleep, Zhao Dong lay on his bed and opened his system interface.
"Congratulations to the host for completing the mission of five consecutive games with 20+ points and 10+ rebounds. You have been rewarded with 10 quality points," the system informed him.
"Yes!" Zhao Dong cheered inwardly. He had already decided how to use the points: five for stamina and five for acceleration. With this, both attributes would reach level 85.
An 85-level stamina would allow him to maintain high efficiency for 35 minutes per game, possibly even 40 minutes with careful pacing. Meanwhile, an 85-level acceleration would be considered elite for a big man, top-tier for a small forward, and competitive even among guards.
"System, can I improve my attributes through training?" Zhao Dong asked, a thought suddenly crossing his mind.
"Yes," the system responded.
Relieved, Zhao Dong felt reassured that his team's training programs would not go to waste.
On the afternoon of the 21st, the team arrived in Philadelphia for their next game, scheduled for the 23rd. Zhao Dong used the two days leading up to the game to focus on shooting practice, determined to sharpen his skills even while on the road.
Meanwhile, on the 22nd, the league released an official statement regarding the controversy involving Jordan allegedly instructing Horace Grant to provoke Zhao Dong. The statement read, "After reviewing the evidence and consulting with communication companies, we found it insufficient to confirm the authenticity of the claims. We hope all players exercise caution when addressing the media."
Zhao Dong smirked as he read the statement. "Master Stern, are you trying to bully me? Believe it or not, I'll turn your league upside down one day."
He wasn't surprised by the league's stance. Protecting Jordan was a given, and he knew he wouldn't receive the same treatment as a Chinese player. Still, the statement caused him some trouble. Certain media outlets began accusing him of fabricating the story.
However, Zhao Dong found support from the New York press. They questioned the league's stance and praised his performances, pushing back against the critics. Despite the challenges, Zhao Dong knew one thing: the harder the league and media pushed, the more determined he would become.
In the end, the league's official response did not tilt the situation in Zhao Dong's favor. While he failed to gain a significant edge from the controversy, his primary goal of distracting Jordan was achieved. Ultimately, the real victors of this incident were the media, who thrived on the drama.
On the same day, in Beijing, the sports department of CCTV held a meeting to discuss the possibility of increasing the number of weekly NBA broadcasts. This year marked the beginning of real-time regular-season broadcasts, but less than a month into the schedule, adjustments to the plan were already being considered. However, the proposal faced resistance from several members.
Zhou Tianlin, the vice-director overseeing the sports division, was present at the meeting. Despite numerous discussions, he had yet to reveal his stance, leaving the room in suspense as the chapter came to an end.
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