Chapter 35: The Rookies' Debut (Part III)

"One, Two!"
"One, Two, Three!"
"..."
Rhythmic shouts and the sound of sneakers squeaking against the floor echoed continuously throughout the SkyDome in Toronto.

Dressed in a blue training suit, assistant coach Don Chaney, stomach protruding, followed closely behind Li You, jogging and keeping time.

While going through simple dribbling drills around obstacles, Li You added his own flair. The basketball currently used for training was a custom-made, heavier version. Combined with the gloves Li You wore, completing technical maneuvers at speed required significantly more effort.

Between-the-legs dribble, crossover, between-the-legs dribble, behind-the-back dribble, crossover...

Li You remained completely unfazed while performing these basic exercises, meticulously executing every movement. The sound of "thump-thump" echoed frequently in the gym. On the other side, the old veterans, who were stretching, were already accustomed to these routines.

"Truly an enviable talent. You started playing basketball at five? I’m starting to believe the nonsense those New York media outlets are spewing!" Charles Oakley, lying on the floor stretching his legs, sighed before casting a sidelong glance at the sycophant Charlie Ward.

He felt a twinge of jealousy. Although Charlie Ward had secured the starting position tonight, edging out the newly acquired Chris Childs thanks to his recent excellent training performance, the sycophant knew deep down that Li You’s shooting was superior and his style, though flashy, was rock-solid. He only got the start because he was a better fit for the veterans and enjoyed feeding the ball to Ewing.

"Li, take a break. The coaching staff really should add some young blood!" Chaney stopped and gestured for Li You to rest. Despite his words about adding young players, he was reluctant to give up his own spot.

"We have old Mike to thank for the custom training equipment. Chaney, it’s time to lose some weight!" Li You handed the ball to rookie John Wallace, smiling as he patted the assistant coach’s belly. Unlike Thibodeau, Chaney preferred explaining offensive sets.

"Don’t worry, Li, you’ll get your chance to start, but you’ll have to sit on the bench for a while. Jeff is just like that sometimes." Chaney dangled another carrot. Li You flashed a pleased smile on the surface, but inwardly, he was dismissive: "Start just to pass to the old guys and then stand at the three-point line waiting for the ball?"

Seeing John Wallace nearby looking on with envy, Li You wanted to say, "Too naive." The current starters were the "big brothers," and the ball distribution was pitifully scarce.

After the morning stretches and warm-ups, before the afternoon tactics session began, a situation arose: Charles Oakley had diarrhea.

Rookie Walter McCarty couldn't help but reveal a gloating smile. He had been bullied mercilessly by the old veteran, and seeing Oakley in trouble made him the happiest of all.

Jeff Van Gundy sighed helplessly; he considered this a failure of his supervision. If it had been Pat Riley, no one would have dared to eat indiscriminately. "Buck, you’re in the starting lineup tonight. Focus on protecting the rebounds."

Hearing the coach’s words, Larry Johnson lost his smile. He knew he preferred playing the power forward spot, yet he was constantly stuck at small forward.

Upon hearing that 36-year-old veteran Buck Williams was starting, Li You couldn't help but complain: "Now we’re officially old and slow!"

...

The SkyDome was packed that night. There was a large Chinese population in Toronto, and Li You’s arrival had helped boost the Raptors' attendance.

The game tipped off at 7:30 PM. The Raptors had just changed head coaches this year, and Darrell Walker faced a daunting task; if the team’s record was poor, he would be responsible for "tanking."

After a flurry of noise, both teams finished their pre-game introductions. Raptors home announcer John Saunders sounded disappointed after seeing the starting lineup: "It looks like we’ll have to wait a few minutes to see Marcus Camby’s debut!"

"In the backcourt, we have our familiar faces, Damon Stoudamire and Doug Christie, with Popeye Jones and Walt Williams at the forward spots, and Zan Tabak at center."

Li You, who was warming up, looked at the Raptors players across the court and felt they were even shorter than he had imagined. Damon Stoudamire was a rookie selected by the Raptors with the 7th pick last season and had secured a starting spot upon joining the team. His profile listed him at 5’10", but Li You felt he wasn't even 1.78 meters tall.

The Raptors fielded a "one-big, four-small" lineup. Aside from starting center Tabak at 2.11 meters, the forwards were just a hair over 2 meters.

The Knicks opened with their classic set. Patrick Ewing won the jump ball and immediately ran to the front court, quickly establishing position in the low post on the left.

The starting sycophant, Charlie Ward, dribbled across half-court, reached the left wing outside the three-point line, and immediately delivered a high lob pass. After Ewing received the ball, everyone spaced out. Larry Johnson stood near the right elbow, and veteran Buck Williams drifted toward the right baseline. Allan Houston began moving toward the top of the arc, and Charlie Ward cut toward the right corner after the pass.

A big center playing in the low post with everyone else spaced out—Li You, sitting on the bench, finally realized where this strong sense of familiarity came from: "Future Rockets tactics are just like this..."

Simple and brutal low-post offense. Ewing, putting the ball on the floor with his right hand, backed his defender into the paint, then turned toward the baseline, shouldering past his opponent to finish with an easy hook shot from the left side of the basket!

"Swish!" Two points secured under the rim.

The home fans didn't seem to care; perhaps they were already numb from losing last season. There was no reaction to Ewing’s bucket.

The Raptors' offense was relatively simple: high pick-and-roll, with Damon Stoudamire accelerating to drive with his left hand. The Knicks' defense immediately collapsed, leaving Williams open near the left baseline, where he caught the ball and drained an easy jumper!

Sitting on the bench, Li You felt completely at ease. This intensity was no different from the preseason.

The game was sleep-inducing. The Knicks played at a slow pace, and the Raptors committed numerous turnovers and took wild, desperate shots. Most importantly, Patrick Ewing’s style was unappealing—jumpers from the left paint area, jumpers from the left elbow. No violent dunks, at most driving into the paint to draw a foul.

Jeff Van Gundy stood on the sidelines shouting instructions. Seeing the opponent commit another turnover, the sycophant Charlie Ward slowed down the pace again, infuriating Van Gundy, who turned and beckoned to Li You: "Li, get ready to check in! Capitalize on their turnovers!"

Li You, who had been daydreaming on the bench, was surprised. He looked up and saw that only 6 minutes and 25 seconds had passed. "Okay, Coach, I’m ready!"

Taking off his training suit, Li You loosened up. Tonight, he had chosen a pair of Nike AIR More Uptempo high-tops with full-length air cushions—a trendy style lately. With blue-and-white striped shoes, long blue arm sleeves, and the slightly oversized blue Knicks jersey, Li You had the fans jeering and cheering even before he stepped onto the court.

While Raptors center Tabak was shooting free throws, Jeff Van Gundy immediately subbed out Charlie Ward. The sycophant was blasted by the coach the moment he reached the sidelines.

Amid the noise of the arena, Tabak missed his second free throw, and Ewing snatched the rebound. Li You, having just checked in on the right wing outside the three-point line, caught the ball, immediately put it on the floor with his right hand, and accelerated across half-court.

At this moment, most players from both teams were still caught in the slow-paced rhythm of the game. Damon Stoudamire, who was fast, retreated to the three-point line to defend. Just as he settled his stance, he saw Li You reach the three-point line, lower his center of gravity, and dribble between his legs. Just as Stoudamire expected him to stop, Li You executed a massive crossover push.

Caught off guard, Stoudamire was beaten in a single step.

The paint was empty. As he approached the key, Li You took off with both feet, swung the ball in the air, grabbed it with his right hand, and slammed it home with a powerful arm swing!

"Ohhh!!"

The powerful windmill dunk instantly ignited the atmosphere. Many fans joined in cheering loudly. Li You ran back on defense, taking a moment to smile at the Raptors players: "If you aren't going to hustle on the fast break, there’s something wrong with your brain!"