Chapter 14 Surely, I'm Opening It Wrong

Hu Weidong, with the ball in the right low post, faced defense from Bruce.

The showdown between China's Jordan and Bruce had Jerry sweating for Hu Weidong on the sidelines. Future Bruce was formidable, with stars like Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Steve Francis, and Andrei Kirilenko having fallen prey to his subtle physicality. The worst-off was Wally Szczerbiak, who nearly got a dual role in DC after a particular encounter.

Jerry feared that Bruce could accidentally injure Hu Weidong with his notorious underhanded tactics. before the game, he had reminded the team to play clean.

But Bruce's defensive prowess was notable. Hu Weidong attempted a breakthrough, but Bruce predicted and impeded the move accurately.

Hu Weidong passed to Wang Zhizhi to try and score on Ben. Twenty-year-old Wang, upon receiving the ball, was thrust off-balance by Ben's physicality and couldn't turn around to face the basket. Left with little choice, he passed the ball back out.

Wang's agility, or lack thereof, meant he could only excel in Asia's light-contact matchups. Against American robustness, his weaknesses magnified. Unfortunately, the national team's crucial physically commanding center had missed the squad this time, leaving a gaping void.

After some ball rotation, Sun Jun's shot sailed wide from the perimeter, with Mikki seizing the rebound.

The Knicks set the pace, spreading the court.

Mikki screened again for Chucky. It was a routine honed to precision that very morning. After setting the screen, Mikki didn't need to move; he only had to wait for the pass.

Wang, following the roughly same height as Mikki, let Li Xiaoyong pursue the defense. Chucky, shorter and more nimble, couldn't be so easily caught.

Many thought South Korea's basketball deteriorated after 2004, with retroceded victories against China. However, it's actually because Chinese basketball only began to grasp defensive play in the 21st century.

The 20th-century Chinese Men's Basketball Team, despite twice reaching the international top eight, would frequently suffer devastating losses of forty or fifty points against powerhouses like the United States and Lithuania. A weak link for China's team was perimeter defense, deeming South Korea's agile playstyle their downfall on those two occasions.

Could the talents of Jerry's players ever match those within South Korea? With completely free rein, Chucky leaped for another 70-degree jump shot from the left side, scoring once more: 6-0.

The Chinese offense persisted, again relying on Hu Weidong. His every movement was disrupted by Bruce's unwavering stance.

Though Bruce's experience lagged behind his Spurs years, his physical form was far superior. Encouraged by Jerry, his defense became relentless, aiming for a meager salary with the New York Knicks.

Hu Weidong, smothered by such defense, was forced to pass to teammates who, without proper screen setups, were closely followed, leaving them stilted. The ball found its way to Wang Zhizhi against Ben's defense.

Wang attempted a back-step shot, contested and far from the hoop. Another miss was evident as the ball veered off, with Mikki claiming another rebound.

The Knicks persisted with their tactics. This time, Wang stepped out to defend, only for Chucky to pass smoothly to Mikki on the left at 60 degrees, near the paint. Li Xiaoyong, a mere 189 cm, could only extend a hand helplessly as the ball found its home inside the rim: 8-0.

The New York Knicks rode the wave of seamless play, their simple yet effective tactics throwing the Chinese center forwards out of their comfort zone to play mismatch.

With Patrick, Charles, and Johnson adept at shooting, the tactic was directly transferrable to the main team, suggesting that consistent off-the-ball movements by guards, paired with mid to long-range shooting, would harrow any team struggling with interior defense.

Jerry stood up, watching keenly. As the players retreated, Mikki and Chucky jogged to slap a casual high-five with their coach.

This moment was aptly captured by the cameras, and back home in China, the audience was perplexed.

"Who is this guy? Why is he with the New York Knicks?"

"Where's Zhang Bin? One of your players has defected!"

Zhang Heli, befuddled, analyzed, "We just saw that Chinese player celebrating with the New York Knicks. He's not wearing their uniform, and it makes no sense. Oddly, no one on the New York side seems bothered."

Sun Zhengping took a deep breath and proposed, "He's sitting beside the head coach; they're conversing. Maybe he's a New York Knicks staff member. He might be Mexican, but looks a lot like one of us."

This explanation appeased the masses, though the specifics of his role were unclear. It was evident he wasn't meant to play.

Jerry wouldn't have minded being a player, but average in physicality, he'd never been proficient at sports.

Officials from the Chinese Basketball Association speculated Jerry to be Mexican, an awkward realization since they initially wanted to present him as a negative example, only to discover he was beyond their jurisdiction.

The Chinese team scored their first point in the sixth round by Sun Jun, while New York Knicks' Ben and Mikki scored again, leading 12-2. Zhang Bin signaled for a timeout.

After the timeout, the Chinese team's offense remained disjointed; their stars suffocated one-on-one. The crowd became unsettled.

Were these truly the New York Knicks' Summer League team? Were NBA rejects playing this impressively?

Their defense was impenetrable, scarcely misplacing a foot, with interior defensive switches executed with a feral swiftness.

The Chinese perimeter struggled to find open shots, and the paint was barred by the robust Ben. Wang's forceful attempts met with Ben's staggering vertical leap, compensating for his lack of height with sheer athleticism.

With 10-minute quarters in the Summer League, the New York Knicks had no substitutions in the first, leading 31-13.

The second quarter brought New York's full substitute lineup to the test.

Three athletically gifted black players, towering center Andy and the 6.3 feet tall sharpshooter Brad took the court.

Brad was slotted as point guard. His lack of playmaking skill was inconsequential. The plan was to launch fast breaks off defensive rebounds, allowing Andy to control the paint and rebound.

There was a discernible drop in the New York Knicks' defensive quality, but the Chinese team failed to close the gap. Four minutes in and not content with a tie, Jerry requested a timeout.

The cameras panned to the sidelines just as Jerry, standing with a tactical board, waved his players into a huddle. The audience was left in awe.

Zhang Heli struggled to believe. "Is that young man from the New York Knicks directing their tactics? Am I seeing this wrong?"

Sun Zhengping replied, "He's definitely dictating tactics; my goodness, the hefty man seems to be watching. Is he actually the head coach?"

Courtside photographers were just as confused. The New York Knicks had yet to announce a press conference to introduce their new Mexican assistant coach, and even the American media was uninformed.

Some doubted reality, switching off and on their TVs, thinking, 'I must open it wrong!'

How could he be a coach at such a young age?