Chapter 47 Why Is He So Formidable
The New York Knicks returned to their home court, where they trounced the Sacramento Kings with a dazzling 122 to 91 victory.
The Kings' defense crumbled, barely standing a chance as the team had only one noteworthy star in Mitch Richmond, who alone was insufficient for the challenge.
Patrick played for just 27 minutes with an impressive tally of 9 out of 13 field goals, 3 of 5 free throws, accruing 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.
On the 18th, the Knicks were on the road to challenge the Rockets, securing a win with 103 to 95, bagging their 10th consecutive victory.
Patrick scored 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists, making 6 of 12 shots. John and Allan stepped up tremendously to subdue the Houston Rockets without Barkley.
The media exclaimed in wonder at Patrick’s newfound knack for passing; fans noticed Patrick had suddenly turned into a playmaking center akin to Vlade.
Thomas was immensely curious and upon Jerry’s return to New York, he asked, “Do you have some kind of superpower? People who aren’t skilled passers are now passing like pros. Can you truly bring about such enlightenment?”
Jerry tossed his backpack into the bedroom, took a drink from the cup Thomas handed him, and with a smile, said, “It’s not about enlightenment, but rather the benefit from a system.”
"Are tactical systems so effective?" Thomas had always felt the role of a basketball coach was minimal and that victories relied mainly on the players.
Jerry laughed, saying, “Patrick is focusing on something different on the court now. Before, he was concerned with scoring, paying less attention to teammates' positioning. Now, he mainly sets up plays, considering offense only after mismatches. It’s normal that his assists have increased. He has a higher usage rate than last season, touching the ball nearly every play.”
“Although I don’t understand it, I can feel it is amazing.” Thomas knew little about basketball.
Generally speaking, a higher usage rate correlated with a lower true shooting percentage. Superstars had high values for both. Those with high usage rates but low shooting efficiency were dubbed false giants in basketball lore.
Usage rate measured the percentage of team possessions a player used while on the court. If a team's offense was distributed absolutely, rotating among five players, then each would have a 20% usage rate. Currently, Patrick's was 32.1%, only behind Michael’s 32.8%.
True shooting percentage was a modified field goal percentage accounting for the value of three-pointers and free throws. It was another parameter indicating the efficiency of scoring opportunities.
Patrick now attempted fewer drives to the basket, with only 5.3 free throws per game on average, no three-pointers, and his true shooting percentage lied outside the top 10 in the league.
Fans didn't pay much attention to these stats; they only knew the Knicks are winning and Patrick's data was at its peak. Patrick’s popularity had soared, driving the New York Knicks to create more economic value.
Jerry, whose contract lacked a winning bonus, did not insist on one. Management, being generous, granted him the one thing he desired most: fame.
Old James Dolan’s radio stations reporting on the victories always remembered to commend Jerry, crediting him with much of their success.
Media reports around the country regularly mentioned how poor the New York Knicks' offense was last season in comparison to this season. Upon reading the news, Jeff's forehead seemed to gleam even brighter.
He did not fear losing his title as commanding officer for he had already signed an extensive contract with the Knicks in the Summer. He simply envied how smoothly Jerry's coaching career was panning out, much more so than at the beginning of his own. What irked him even more was that his last season’s methods now seemed to be a lesson in what not to do.
Jealousy can be maddening.
In China, Jerry was also commonly cited in the media.
At the Asian Championship, even with Wang Zhizhi, Li Xiaoyong, and Liu Yudong absent due to injuries, the Chinese Men's Basketball Team narrowly defeated the South Korean team by 4 points in the semi-finals.
In the finals, they beat Japan by 11 points to claim the championship.
Post-championship, during an interview with Coach Zhang Bin asking how he overcame adversity, Zhang unexpectedly mentioned Jerry.
"In the summer, we trained in the United States and played a game against the New York Knicks Summer League team, which we lost badly. I asked Jerry for suggestions for our team, and he pointed out two critical aspects."
The reporter asked, "Which two?"
Zhang Bin smiled. "He mentioned our defense was weak, and that guarding perimeter shooting was crucial. Centers can't just stand under the basket; against teams who attack from the perimeter, it's possible to employ small-ball tactics if you have the agility in your lineup. He also stressed practicing breaking through full-court presses. This time at the Asian Championship, his words were prophetic; both South Korea and Japan relied heavily on outside attacks."
After Wang Zhizhi was injured, the Chinese team adopted small-ball tactics, with Gong Xiaobin standing in as center, not relying on the slow-footed Ji Minshang, thereby strengthening their perimeter defense.
Moreover, after losing by 52 points to a group of unknown players in the Summer League, this humbling experience grounded the overly proud CBA stars to reality, curtailing any arrogance.
Upon learning through the news that he inadvertently altered history, Jerry felt a profound sense of accomplishment; the feeling was truly splendid.
Following the match with the Rockets, the Knicks entered a stretch of easier games. Teams like the Washington Wizards and the Grizzlies were simple opponents, and even the tougher Pistons and Suns were effectively restrained by the Knicks.
The Knicks began the season with a record 15 straight wins, leading the league.
Previously, the record for the best start in an NBA season was held by the Allan Rockets of the 1993-1994 season, who triumphantly notched up 15 wins from the start. Unfortunately, the Rockets’ momentum waned, and they entered the playoffs as the sixth seed in the West.
However, in the playoffs, the Rockets displayed the aura of champions and successfully won the title, becoming the NBA team with the worst regular season record to ever win the championship. Coach Tomjanovich’s now-famous adage, “Never underestimate the heart of a champion,” is still remembered by many.
Now, this impressive record was equaled by the New York Knicks.
Due to the Knicks’ dominant performance, several basketball stars had the luxury of finishing their games early. Many fans were convinced the Knicks would defeat the Chicago Bulls this season to advance to the finals and take the championship crown.
The Knicks had star power, a stable three-point line-up, strong post play, and fierce overall defense. Additionally, they possessed something the Rockets lacked back then—depth of the roster!
The Knicks’ bench depth was outstanding, contributing stable points from reserves. Mikki and Jackson, both with decent physical attributes, had yet to see playing time. Even fringe players like Bart Williams and Chucky were able to score during garbage time, one bringing experience and the other unpredictability to their shots.
On December 2nd, the Knicks were on the road against the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs had picked Duncan as their first draft that summer, creating an imposing Twin Towers lineup; however, their team was still mending, and their record was a modest 9 wins and 7 losses, a notable difference from the Knicks in terms of strength.
Before the game began, the media consensus was that a new record-setting string of opening season victories was about to be established.
"Who can stop the New York Knicks’ winning streak?"
"Can Patrick, aged 35, seize his first MVP title?"
"Is it possible for the Knicks to break the Chicago Bulls' 72-win season record?"
Patrick was smoothly crowned Player of the Month in the East after having already secured the Eastern Conference Player of the Week twice. Playing an average of 34.2 minutes per game, he could achieve 19.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.2 blocks, with his assist figures reaching new career highs and still trending upward. His field goal percentage was a solid 54.2%, the highest in eight years.
Despite Patrick trailing Michael Jordan and Karl Malone in stats, he topped them both on the MVP ranking ladder.
Patrick was very exciting now, realizing how close he was to his first dream.