Chapter 55 Can He Work Miracles?

On the 25th, Jerry and Thomas Bentley eschewed any festive parties, staying home to enjoy Mexicans' favorite Mexican cuisine and watching basketball games to celebrate.

The NBA's selection criteria for teams in the annual Christmas Day games hinge on the concept of "rivalries." It could be the showdown between popular stars vying for popularity and market share, all orchestrated to draw viewers' attention.

This year two matchups were set: Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat, and Rockets vs. Utah Jazz.

Of course, the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks fit the rivalry bill better, but their feud was too intense; the league didn't dare schedule them on this day for fear that the Knicks' crowd would beat P.J. Brown.

The Miami Heat at 17 wins and 8 losses, and the Chicago Bulls at 17 wins and 9 losses, looked less formidable without Pippen. The Bulls had lost only 10 games in the previous season.

Facing the trident of Mourning, Hardaway, and Mashburn, Jordan led the team independently, netting a 90 to 80 victory. The Chicago Bulls, averaging only 90.7 points against them per game, still relied on defense to win.

After the game, Thomas remarked, "The Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat seem not so competitive this year. The match was dull. The New York Knicks play a more entertaining game with higher scores."

"Even the New York Knicks are too conservative. If I were in charge of the tactics, we'd score even more," Jerry laughed. "The Knicks could very likely win the championship this year. Jordan is no longer the king."

Both powerhouses of the East still clung to old-school play styles, ground combat, and scrappy defense.

Jordan could still score plenty, but people noticed he was on the decline. His ability to draw double teams deteriorated, many of his attempts coming from turn-around jumpers after low-post catches, a far cry from the pinnacle days when a face-up Jordan would penetrate and attract defenses to dish or drive.

Post-up was a vital skill, but the most effective play in basketball was always about running set tactics or isolating on a clear mismatch.

Jordan, unable to draw double teams as before, didn't have as much dominance, partly because he rarely shot threes. That season his average was 28 points, but it required 23 shots, an offensive efficiency actually lower than Kobe's in Jerry's past life during the 2004-2005 season, when he couldn't lead the Los Angeles Lakers to the playoffs.

Suddenly, Thomas inquired, "Jerry, how's it going with that female student?"

"Which one?" Jerry blinked.

"The one from the diner, she seems to like you. You often go there, isn't it to see her? She works and studies hard, a good girl."

"No, we're just friends," Jerry replied upon knowing Thomas meant Angela. He shook his head; his visits were purely for food.

"You used to like those Sweeties, right?" Thomas teased.

"What I need most now is to focus on my career. Until I become a head coach, I don't want to be distracted by romance. Besides, that type of..." The term "Sweetie" made Jerry cringe.

"A man should enjoy life timely. When you're old, you may realize that work isn't everything."

Thomas was quite the playboy in college and still kept in touch with many people, not settling with a girlfriend. Whereas Jerry remained a constant recluse, which led to rumors in the gossip media that they might be gay. Thomas found it distressing, urging him to find someone quickly.

Jerry had no such intentions, especially since he didn't plan to stick with the New York Knicks too long. He deflected, "If I meet the right person, I won't miss the chance."

Following Christmas, on the 27th, the New York Knicks faced the Toronto Raptors, easily winning 114 to 97.

Ewing exploded with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists, completely outshining Camby's 9 points and 6 rebounds, replicating his pick-and-roll strategy from their last Raptors encounter.

Houston cashed in with 21 points, emerging as a stable secondary scorer for the team.

"Little Flying Mouse" Amar'e Stoudemire was on fire, dropping 30 points and 5 boards, propping up the team for three quarters. The Knicks bolstered their defense against perimeter shooting, causing the Raptors to go silent in the final quarter.

The Raptors' lack of inside offense was the main obstacle to bettering their record, and after the game, they stood at 3 wins and 25 losses, last in the league, on course for the top draft pick.

After the match, Raptors' manager, Glen Grunwald, was rebuked by owner Richard Peddie in his office.

"I do look forward to securing the top draft next season, but not by breaking the record for NBA's worst performance. Can they even win more than 10 games? Why haven't we traded Damon yet?"

Glen replied, "Trading Camby and Amar'e Stoudemire right now wouldn't bring back much. I plan to wait until the end of this season."

Richard roared, "What if there's a lockout next summer? How will you deal then? Don't wait, trade him mid-season for a defensive stalwart, or even someone on an expiring contract."

Players on their contract years could be let go if not performing well, clearing up cap space. but it's akin to giving away a stat-heavy second-tier star for nothing.

The management's dislike for Amar'e Stoudemire had reached such a state. He was the previous manager ‘Smiling Assassin’ Thomas's protégé. Now with Thomas gone, they felt no need for courtesies.

Glen could only reply, "I'll think about it."

"Do it quickly, and I don't want to see him after the All-Star Game," Richard demanded firmly.

Glen didn't voice his concerns. Stoudemire was currently the Raptors' best offensive player. Trading him away, would his team have any offense left for the second half of the season? Without breaking the opponents' defense, how could they win?

McGrady was now merely a defensive player; the Raptors' management admired his talent but doubted his scoring ability. Christie, also defense-first, lacked efficiency in increased shooting.

Glen feared that trading away Amar'e Stoudemire and failing to draft an attacking rookie next year could mean the end of his job; the Raptors could become the worst offensive team in the league.

That's when he thought of Jerry and made a call to his assistant. "Jimmy, have we compiled complete information on Jerry? Are the Knicks' offensive plays his doing?"

Jimmy Walker replied, "They have to be. Both the players and Van Gundy praised him, and there have been interviews. He's the Lead Assistant Coach in charge of offense."

"The Knicks' offensive strength this season is certainly tied to their strong lineup. If Jerry were to coach the Raptors next year, what do you think he could do?" Glen asked.

"How would I know? If no players are willing to join, and our roster remains this poor, anyone would be useless," Jimmy retorted wryly.

Glen sighed, saying, "Keep an eye on the Knicks, and once our season is over, I'll personally test the waters with him. Moving from assistant to head coach should interest him. At the very least, he could draw in the fans."

Jimmy was taken aback. "Are you serious about hiring him? He'll only be 24 next year, pretty inexperienced."

"What choice do we have? Would any notable coach come to the Raptors?"

Certainly not. From their creation to the point of Jerry's rebirth, the Raptors had never attracted either big-name players or coaches.

The Raptors' manager had his sights on Jerry, prepared to take a shot.