Comparisons

Back at the hotel, Lian Dao bumped into Wilson Chandler at the entrance.

"Sickle, what are you doing here?" Wilson asked, a look of surprise on his face.

Lian Dao blinked in confusion. What do you mean? I'm supposed to be here, right? Although there was a back-to-back game tomorrow, they weren't flying to Sacramento until the morning. Hadn't the coach said the plane was scheduled for early tomorrow?

"Oh man, you didn't go on a date with Taylor Swift?!" Wilson continued, his expression shifting to one of disbelief. "You... you missed such a golden opportunity, bro."

It took Lian Dao a moment to process what Wilson meant. Once it clicked, he rolled his eyes. Really?

Today had already been chaotic. During the post-game interview, some reporters even speculated if his nosebleed had been caused by something other than a hit on the court. Lian Dao had explained, but judging by the smirks and raised eyebrows, it was clear the reporters didn't believe a word.

If he had actually gone out with Taylor tonight, by tomorrow morning, every headline would scream: "NBA Rising Star Lian Dao Spotted with Pop Sensation Taylor Swift!"

Lian Dao shook his head. The Los Angeles media could be just as relentless as any paparazzi. Plus, the last thing he wanted was to be the subject of one of Taylor's songs. Sure, she was beautiful and talented, but that wasn't the kind of attention Lian Dao was after.

After settling into his room, his phone rang. It was a call from the "little senior sister." She was checking in on him, mostly asking if his nose and muscle spasms were okay. She was even worried about his flight to Sacramento the next day.

Lian Dao reassured her with his usual charm, assuring her that everything was fine. But then, she hit him with a surprise.

"So... was Taylor's chest soft? Did you see anything... you shouldn't have?"

Lian Dao nearly choked on his words, quickly launching into a stream of explanations, throwing in compliments to keep the peace. He came dangerously close to uttering cheesy lines like, "You're the only one I care about, I swear."

After what felt like an hour of convincing her, she finally hung up the phone, satisfied.

By the time he glanced out the window, it was already four in the morning. Lian Dao sighed, flashing a wry smile. At least I got to see L.A. at 4 a.m.

If he'd actually gone on that date like Wilson suggested, he probably would've ended up on the front page... or worse, caught red-handed.

Oh, women! he thought, shaking his head.

The Knicks lost, but this time, the media wasn't as critical.

For one, the Lakers were the reigning champions, and their strength was undeniable. The Knicks had managed to keep the game close for the first three quarters, only faltering when Lian Dao had to sit out in the fourth due to leg spasms. Without their star on the floor, the team's performance gradually declined.

On top of that, the fans had started to gain perspective. When compared to the previous season, the Knicks' improvement was staggering. After coming to this realization, many fans began to push back against some of the sensationalized headlines the media had been running.

As the season progressed, several league rankings were released, with fans paying the most attention to individual stats and rookie performances. ESPN's November rankings highlighted this, with Lian Dao still leading the scoring charts. He was averaging 36.8 points, 12.5 assists, and 8.4 rebounds per game. LeBron James followed with 30.5 points, 7.8 assists, and 6.4 rebounds, while Carmelo Anthony was third with 30.4 points, 3.5 assists, and 5.9 rebounds.

In the rookie rankings, Lian Dao continued to dominate, well ahead of his peers. Brandon Jennings was second, averaging 22.1 points, 5.6 assists, and 3.8 rebounds, while Tyreke Evans came in third with 20.3 points, 5.1 assists, and 5.5 rebounds.

Lian Dao's stellar performances in November earned him both Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month honors. He joined Larry Bird as one of the few rookies in NBA history to win both awards in the same month. Throughout November, he also bagged two Player of the Week and two Rookie of the Week titles, further solidifying his remarkable rookie season.

However, after their hard-fought game against the Lakers, the Knicks hit a rough patch. They lost consecutive games to the Sacramento Kings and then the Denver Nuggets on the road. When the Knicks lost to Denver, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Paul reportedly felt a sense of relief. At least Carmelo Anthony, their fellow superstar, remained undefeated in head-to-head matchups against the Knicks.

Facing Carmelo in their game against the Nuggets, Lian Dao realized just how potent "Melo" was offensively, though Carmelo's defensive intensity often seemed to wane. It wasn't that he lacked defensive ability—he simply didn't always prioritize it during games.

The Knicks' slump continued with a loss to the Orlando Magic, where Dwight Howard dominated the inside, turning the Knicks' paint into his personal playground. This marked the team's fourth consecutive loss.

Despite this rough stretch, Lian Dao continued to put up outstanding numbers, scoring over 30 points in all four games. The media, once skeptical, began to heap praise on the young star. It seemed as though they had suddenly realized that, despite his extraordinary performances, Lian Dao was still just a rookie.

After the media placed Lian Dao on a pedestal among the rookies, the criticism of the other rookies intensified.

It was like the NBA had turned into a stage for the dreaded "other people's kids" comparison. The other rookies couldn't help but feel the heat:

"Sure, praise Sickle all you want. But why drag us into it? Did we steal your food, or desecrate your ancestors' graves? Why all the hostility?"

Of course, the rookie who bore the brunt of the criticism was Blake Griffin. Without even stepping on the court due to his injury, Griffin had somehow earned the title of a "bust" in some circles. In frustration, it was said Griffin broke three computers while stuck in recovery.

Griffin: "I haven't even played a single game, and I'm already labeled a bust. Who am I supposed to take this up with?"

Meanwhile, the media was throwing out bold predictions about Lian Dao potentially contending for the scoring title.

In the Eastern Conference, the Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Atlanta Hawks all sat with identical 12-5 records, tied for third place. Leading the pack was the Orlando Magic at 14-4, powered by their "one-star, four-shooter" system that maximized Dwight Howard's abilities. Howard, in his prime, was a dominant force, but his hunger for victory remained a point of contention.

The second-place team was the Boston Celtics with a 13-4 record. Though their "Big Three" continued to be a formidable presence, their age was showing. Against faster, younger teams, the Celtics were struggling. Expecting a bunch of veterans in their thirties to outrun the league's young guns was pushing the limits.

The Magic's head coach, Stan Van Gundy, was awarded Eastern Conference Coach of the Month. Mike D'Antoni, who had been in the running, saw his chances slip away during the Knicks' four-game losing streak.

Over in the West, the Phoenix Suns claimed the top spot with a 14-3 record. After trading Shaquille O'Neal to the Cavaliers and parting ways with Ben Wallace, the Suns had fully returned to their run-and-gun style, proving once again that their fast-paced approach was the franchise's bread and butter. Alvin Gentry, their head coach, won the Western Conference Coach of the Month in recognition of this success.

The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers trailed close behind, with records of 13-5 and 13-3, respectively. The Lakers, as the reigning champions, were finding their rhythm with Ron Artest seamlessly fitting into the squad. The Mavericks, despite their age, remained strong contenders, their eyes set firmly on the championship.

"Lian Po is old, can he still eat?" went the saying—but no one doubted the Mavericks' relentless pursuit of a title.

The third-ranked teams in the West were the Denver Nuggets and the Portland Trail Blazers. The Nuggets, with a 12-5 record, had smoothed out their offense after trading for Chauncey Billups, making Carmelo Anthony's role more efficient. Gone were the days of alternating between Iverson and Anthony in isolation plays, with the rest of the team merely watching.

As for the Blazers, their youth resurgence was spearheaded by Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, a duo reminding the league that the future belonged to the young.

Greg Oden, often plagued by injuries, managed to stay healthy through November, averaging 11.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. But everyone knew Oden's biggest enemy wasn't the competition—it was his own body.

And, tragically, Brandon Roy was no stranger to that struggle either. The biggest threat to the Blazers wasn't another team, but the relentless curse of injuries.