Chapter 532: Beating up the children
"But this year's Eastern Conference still has several strong teams. The Celtics' Big Three are still sharp, the Magic have also strengthened during the offseason, and the Miami Heat's Big Three are all league superstars. Are we really sure of victory?" a reporter asked with a hint of concern . Of course, his question was more to elicit more "boastful" talk from Yang Mo; New York needed that kind of talk to boost morale.
"Isn't our lineup stronger than theirs? Last year, we only had six players left but we were still able to reach the Eastern Conference semifinals. What reason do we have not to win the championship this year? Besides, if I don't win the championship in the third year of my career, wouldn't I be a failure?" Yang Mo said domineeringly.
His championship declaration was the most powerful one the reporters had ever heard. He did not disguise anything, nor did he cover up anything. He acted as if it was destiny, as if he had ended the discussion about who would win the championship.
New York fans loved this feeling; they had never thought Yang Mo was so lovable. They used to think Yang Mo would fall for his outrageous statements, but as he repeatedly fulfilled his boasts, everyone came to believe that he was actually a humble person. It's just that his life was more advanced than the average person's. His words were incomprehensible, but he was honest and always kept his word.
After answering a few questions, Yang Mo pushed Iverson, Stoudemire, and the others forward. He didn't want to monopolize the spotlight, so he had to let the other players receive media exposure, right? After all, everyone came to New York at a friendly price, and almost everyone made sacrifices, so they had to make up for it in other ways.
After Yang Mo left, he went straight to the coaching staff. His coaching staff was already star-studded. Sloan, Kristaps Kobe, and Tomjanovich, these three head coaches together could easily outshine any other coaching staff in the league. This was a true All-Star lineup.
The three coaches constantly shared their learnings with the players, their philosophies constantly colliding. Yang Mo also joined in, absorbing everyone's strengths and integrating them into a cohesive whole, making it his own. This collision of talents benefited him immensely, and he realized how lucky his previous victories had been. While his on-the-spot reflexes were better than those of the veterans, their tactical thinking was still more sophisticated.
Soon, the preseason arrived, and the Knicks easily won seven games in a row. This seven-game winning streak was entirely built on the absence of Yang Mo, who sat on the bench in a well-tailored suit for all seven games, directing the tactical operations.
Under his leadership, the Knicks displayed a formidable offensive capability. While their play was somewhat lackluster at the rim, their full offensive potential was unleashed. Stoudemire, in particular, was playing incredibly well, averaging 41 points in seven games, a truly unstoppable force. This performance made him feel that the pay cut he took to join the team was worth it. If he could win one or two scoring titles and three championship rings in the next three years, could he command a whopping $100 million or even $120 million for his next contract? He would then be the premier power forward, and who would dare challenge him?
In addition to Stoudemire, Beasley, Chandler, Gallinani and Iverson also played brilliant offense, and their scores also continued to rise.
Now, the only problem was that they hadn't formed a cohesive whole. But Yang Mo wasn't worried about it. He believed that as long as he played and controlled the ball, everything would be solved.
The Lakers, Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat also achieved seven consecutive preseason wins. Therefore, the Knicks' seven-game winning streak did not receive much news coverage because most of the top teams had the same record.
The regular season is coming up soon, and the Knicks' opening game opponent is the Orlando Magic, the team they defeated in the first round last year. This is a very targeted layout. League officials are trying to create an atmosphere of revenge for the Orlando Magic.
In fact, the Orlando Magic were thinking the same thing. They wanted revenge, they wanted to restore their dignity at Madison Square Garden, after last year's crushing playoff defeat had completely tarnished their reputation. As the saying goes, knowing shame is the beginning of courage, and today they returned with a renewed bravery.
But... their bravery does not make them invincible.
After the first quarter, they already realized the formidable nature of this Knicks team. When Yang Mo returned to the court, he racked up 11 assists in the first quarter, while Stoudemire scored 18 points, including five dunks. Facing the brutish forward, Howard could only shrug helplessly; his point guard couldn't offer him a precise alley-oop.
After leading by fifteen points in the first quarter, Yang Mo sat out again, allowing other players to play. Even without Yang Mo, the Knicks' powerful offensive firepower could still be unleashed uninterruptedly. However, Yang Mo realized that without him on the court, the point guard position would be significantly lacking. Allen Iverson, Tony Allen, and Eddie House could all play point guard, but... weren't they good at passing?
It seems that the point guard position needs to be strengthened.
Yang Mo muttered something and made a calculation in his mind.
Similarly, there is a little problem at the small forward position. There are too many people who can play, and their styles are diverse, making it difficult to unify them.
Maybe Isaiah Thomas is right and it would be better to trade him for Carmelo Anthony. We really don't need so many players, so we might as well bring in a strong small forward.
Yang Mo was vaguely leaning toward a trade. Using Chandler and Gallinari as the primary bargaining chips to acquire Carmelo Anthony would be a good option. That would leave only Anthony and Beasley at small forward. Their styles were similar, so even if they were to alternate, there wouldn't be any tactical gaps.
The game continued, and the slaughter continued. Yang Mo let the Magic pull back four or five points in the second quarter, but when Yang Mo took the court in the third quarter, the situation suddenly reversed. The Knicks were completely beating the kids, and the Magic had no chance of resisting.
In the end, the first game of the regular season ended without any suspense. The Magic easily lost by 31 points, creating the largest score difference in the opening game of the day.
Originally, league officials believed the Magic, with their enhanced roster, would be able to put up a tough fight against the Knicks, but reality proved to be harsh. This clearly demonstrates just how dominant the Knicks have become.
