Against Utah Jazz

After dinner, Lian Dao drove to the arena, knowing they still had a training camp that afternoon. This time, however, he was late for the first time. He hadn't anticipated the traffic jam that caught him off guard on the way.

As he arrived, Lian Dao met D'Antoni's gaze and immediately accepted the punishment without protest. D'Antoni's satisfied expression said it all.

Lian Dao completed the 20 quick back-and-forth sprints without hesitation, demonstrating that the punishment was no mere formality. The rest of the team took note—realizing that the previously set rules were not just for show.

After the regular training session, Lian Dao approached Millsap and proposed a 1v1 match. Millsap's reaction was hesitant; he claimed he wasn't feeling well and suggested rescheduling for the next day.

Lian Dao wasn't buying it. Millsap had been lively just moments earlier, dunking with ease during drills. His sudden excuse didn't fool anyone, especially Lian Dao.

Sensing the tension, the other teammates quickly dispersed, avoiding the impending showdown. They knew that when Lian Dao wanted a 1v1, it wasn't just a friendly match—it was a test of endurance and skill. No one enjoyed being on the receiving end of Lian Dao's relentless offense.

Lian Dao's 1v1 sessions were notoriously grueling. He would constantly mix up his offensive tactics, making it more of an exercise in survival than a friendly competition. By the end of it, players would often feel as if their bodies were falling apart.

This time, Lian Dao had Millsap in his sights. The game quickly became a one-sided affair, with Lian Dao dominating from the start. The teammates on the sidelines couldn't help but react with exaggerated expressions. David Lee mimicked shock, Wilson Chandler feigned discomfort, and even Chris Duhon shook his head with a grin. They might as well have been auditioning for Hollywood instead of playing in the NBA.

When it was over, Millsap trudged off the court, looking thoroughly defeated. Lian Dao hadn't held back, and Millsap felt every bit of it.

Noticing that Lian Dao hadn't singled anyone else out for a one-on-one, Wilson Chandler cautiously approached Millsap. "Paul, what did you do to tick off the boss?"

Millsap was confused. He hadn't done anything to provoke Lian Dao. If anything, he had always played the role of a rookie, showing Lian Dao the utmost respect. Then, a memory hit him.

"Lao Tzu..." Millsap muttered, realization dawning on him. After the Cavaliers game, he had jokingly referred to himself as "Lao Tzu" in front of Lian Dao. It was all in jest, but he had also patted Lian Dao on the back—an innocent gesture that the rest of the team had misinterpreted as something else. At the time, Millsap had brushed it off, thinking Lian Dao hadn't noticed.

But now, it seemed like Lian Dao had been holding a grudge.

Training with someone as intense as Lian Dao was hard enough, but dealing with a meticulous and competitive Lian Dao was on another level. To Millsap, Lian Dao had become the ultimate boss—a "narrow-minded training maniac with a streak of violent madness."

Of course, this was all in good humor—a small joke among the Knicks. But for Millsap, the lesson was clear: never underestimate Lian Dao's memory, or his willingness to settle a score.

Next, Lian Dao called for other players to join him in training sessions featuring 2-on-1 and 3-on-1 confrontations. The others were eager to participate, recognizing that even Lian Dao would have a tough time winning in these multiplayer scenarios. While it might seem unfair to pit more players against fewer, the Knicks didn't mind, as everyone knew that one-on-one battles were still a challenge.

After training, Wilson suggested they head to a nightclub for some fun, and Lian Dao readily agreed. In his previous life, nightclubs had been Lian Dao's main battleground, but this was his first experience visiting one in this life.

Under Wilson Chandler's leadership, the group made their way to the nightclub. Chandler claimed the title of the "little prince of New York nightclubs," which is why he led the charge.

Upon arrival, Lian Dao discovered that the club wouldn't serve him alcoholic drinks since he was under 21. He could have easily bribed his way to a drink, but he opted instead for a glass of juice. This choice led to playful teasing from his teammates, but Lian Dao shrugged it off, content to watch them enjoy themselves.

Wilson Chandler was particularly lively, flanked by two women on either side. Lian Dao attracted the attention of two attractive white college girls, but he politely declined their advances. Though he was considered good-looking, he found their presence overwhelming due to their scents.

At the end of the night, Lian Dao settled the bar tab in advance, earning gratitude from his teammates. While it wasn't a large amount, it earned him respect among his peers, especially since acting like a boss is highly valued in their culture. As for their plans for after the nightclub, that was up to them, but Lian Dao warned them not to overdo it, reminding them of their game against the Utah Jazz the next night.

The following day, Lian Dao was the first to arrive at the arena. Shortly after, Wilson Chandler and the others trickled in, keeping the indulgence to a minimum. There wasn't much training scheduled for today since they had a game that night against the Utah Jazz.

During the game, the Knicks struggled against the Jazz's formidable twin-tower lineup, ultimately losing. Two players stood out, though: Deron Williams and Paul Millsap. Williams had a rough night, shooting just 26.3%, while the Jazz's other perimeter players failed to capitalize on his struggles. Millsap, on the other hand, was relentless against his former team, sinking nine three-pointers—six of them in a single quarter.

Throughout the third quarter, it felt like three-pointers rained down at Madison Square Garden, with Lian Dao and Millsap trading shots. The Jazz had established a 23-point lead in the first half, but the Knicks fought back to tie it during the third quarter, keeping the game competitive.

However, the combination of Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer proved too powerful, and Lian Dao couldn't help but admire the Jazz and their head coach, Jerry Sloan. Sloan had a unique ability to develop his big men, transforming them into versatile scorers, much like he did with Karl Malone, one of Utah's legendary players.

Under Sloan's system, big players needed to be proficient inside and able to shoot from the perimeter. Guards also had to excel at breaking down defenses. The pick-and-roll plays were a staple, often leading to easy baskets for the bigs or open mid-range shots.

Sloan's coaching style made the most of this strategy, with Malone and John Stockton as the epitome of his philosophy. He viewed Deron Williams as a potential successor to Stockton, hoping Deron would embody the same qualities of discipline and dedication to the game.

However, there was a tension brewing. Despite his admiration for Sloan, Deron felt increasingly stifled by the coach's expectations, especially as he developed into a superstar himself. If the Jazz continued to struggle this season, conflict between them was inevitable.

Lian Dao maintained his respect for Sloan, noting how few NBA teams were truly coach-driven. Sloan had demonstrated the effectiveness of his pick-and-roll tactics throughout history, though luck had eluded him. The Jazz had faced the dominant Chicago Bulls led by Michael Jordan and were now up against the formidable Los Angeles Lakers.