Knicks vs Spurs

On game day, the Spurs arrived at Madison Square Garden early for their pre-game training session. Following their practice, head coach Gregg Popovich was invited for a media interview. True to his style, Popovich initiated his classic "tainted milk" routine, a pre-game tactic he's known for.

When asked about facing the Knicks, Popovich heaped praise on his opponents: 

"They've had an outstanding season and completed their rebuild flawlessly. Their core players have incredible talent, and D'Antoni has implemented some of the best tactical approaches for the team. The Knicks have been delivering spectacular performances all season, and I have no doubt that they'll make it to the playoffs this year."

Of course, seasoned basketball fans knew better than to take Popovich's words at face value. His compliments were as infamous as Charles Barkley's ill-fated predictions or the "kiss of death" comments from Chicago broadcasters. But while the latter two usually jinxed teams they genuinely believed in, Popovich's praise often had a strategic undertone—intended to lull his opponents into a false sense of security. Teams that took his words to heart often found themselves on the losing end of the game.

---

Back in China, the Knicks' game drew considerable attention. The Christmas matchup between the Knicks and the Heat had already set the highest national TV ratings at the time, further boosting Lian Dao's rising fame in his home country. His popularity wasn't just soaring on the court; brands, both domestic and international, were lining up for endorsement deals with him.

One brand in particular, Anta, had made waves by signing Lian Dao early in his career. At the time of the signing, other domestic sneaker companies mocked Anta, labeling them as reckless spenders doomed to fail. Many believed Anta's investment in Lian Dao would prove fruitless.

But before the release of Lian Dao's signature sneakers, Anta was already reaping the rewards. The brand saw a surge in popularity across China, and even began carving out a presence in the U.S. market. Their success not only silenced the critics but also sparked envy among other domestic sneaker companies, all of whom wished they had the foresight to secure a partnership with the rising star.

The game between the Knicks and the Spurs was broadcast live on CCTV 5, continuing to draw massive attention from fans in China. With Yao Ming out for the season and Yi Jianlian sidelined due to injury, Chinese viewers had their eyes fixed on Lian Dao. His rising fame, along with his good looks, even influenced some viewers. Many male fans who might have wanted to watch Kobe Bryant and the Lakers found themselves switching to Knicks games, swayed by their girlfriends who favored watching Lian Dao.

Madison Square Garden was packed to the rafters, as it often was, even during the Knicks' worst seasons. This season, with the Knicks playing well, tickets were in higher demand than ever, making it nearly impossible to find a seat.

As the warm-ups concluded, the arena was ready for the opening ceremony, and the crowd's energy was electric. The Spurs were introduced first, greeted by a chorus of boos from the Knicks faithful as Tony Parker, Keith Bogans, Richard Jefferson, DeJuan Blair, and Tim Duncan took the floor.

Then came the Knicks. Each player's introduction brought louder and louder cheers, but when Lian Dao stepped onto the court, the noise hit its peak, with the entire crowd chanting his name.

The starting five for the Knicks: Chris Duhon, Wilson Chandler, Lian Dao, Paul Millsap, and David Lee.

At center court, Tim Duncan and David Lee lined up for the jump ball. Duncan, despite his age and declining athleticism, still had the experience and technique, easily tipping the ball to his team. The Spurs took possession.

As they advanced, Duncan quickly set up in the low post, demanding the ball. Parker fed it to him, and the battle between Duncan and David Lee began. Although David Lee was younger and more agile, Duncan's vast experience and strength gave him the upper hand.

Duncan showcased his trademark back-to-the-basket game, leaning into David Lee with his shoulders and using his elbows subtly to create space—moves that were deceptively physical but within the limits allowed by referees. Duncan's methodical, fundamental approach made it difficult for defenders to stop him. He turned around smoothly and hit his signature bank shot off the glass, scoring the first points for the Spurs.

Despite Duncan's age, his craftiness and ability to make precise plays in the post proved why he was still such a formidable presence on the court. His moves were deliberate, every turn and shot calculated, showing why the Spurs were still a dangerous team despite the aging of their "Big Three."

Looking back, Lian Dao received the ball at the three-point line and, with Richard Jefferson guarding him tightly, calmly drilled in a three-pointer.

It was as if Lian Dao's message to Duncan was clear: "You have your tricks, I have mine."

While Lian Dao couldn't match Duncan's post-up mastery, his deadly accuracy from beyond the arc was going to give the Spurs fits.

On the Spurs' next possession, they fed the ball to Duncan again, but this time the Knicks switched Millsap onto him. David Lee was having a hard time physically keeping up with Duncan, so they opted for a stronger defender.

Millsap, with his strength, provided better resistance against Duncan, but Duncan adjusted, showing his basketball IQ. Instead of forcing his way inside, he pivoted, made a quick three-threat move, and sank a smooth mid-range bank shot. Duncan's ability to adapt in real-time made him an absolute nightmare.

Despite Millsap's improved defense, his lack of height put him at a disadvantage, and Duncan's experience allowed him to consistently find ways to score.

On the Knicks' next possession, Lian Dao made his move. He broke through Jefferson's defense with ease and surged towards the basket. Duncan rotated to help, but Lian Dao was one step ahead. He smoothly pulled the ball under the basket, avoiding Duncan's block attempt, and finished with a finesse layup.

It became clear that while the Knicks struggled to contain Duncan in the post, the Spurs had no answers for Lian Dao's offensive explosion from the outside and his slashing ability.

Both teams were in an offensive rhythm early, each capitalizing on their star players' strengths. The Spurs, unfazed, continued feeding Duncan in the low post, determined to slow the game down.

This time, Chris Duhon attempted an early double-team on Duncan after Parker fed him the ball. But Duncan, calm as ever, passed the ball back to Parker, forcing Duhon to abandon the double-team.

When Duncan got the ball again, he faked a mid-range shot, causing Millsap to bite on the move and leap into the air. Duncan coolly collected the ball, drove past Millsap, and hammered down a powerful dunk. It was a classic Duncan sequence, illustrating his low-post dominance and deceptive moves.

On the next Knicks possession, Lian Dao continued to torment Richard Jefferson. This time, Jefferson nervously anticipated Lian Dao's every move, trying to guard against both his shot and his drive. But Lian Dao's elite first step was too fast. He blew by Jefferson, forcing the Spurs' interior defenders to collapse on him.

Lian Dao, seeing the double-team approaching, didn't force the issue. Instead, he pivoted and dished the ball to Millsap under the rim, who delivered a thunderous dunk. Millsap, visibly frustrated from his earlier battles with Duncan, took out some of his pent-up frustration on the rim with that powerful slam.

Millsap, however, was clearly struggling to keep his composure against Duncan. No matter how hard he played defensively, Duncan's precision and strength continued to wear him down, affecting Millsap mentally.

This type of mental toll wouldn't have been an issue for a veteran like Duncan, who had gone toe-to-toe with some of the league's all-time greats, including Shaquille O'Neal. Duncan's experience, along with his psychology studies, had always given him an edge in keeping his calm under pressure, something Millsap still needed to develop.

Lian Dao, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by double-teams. His excellent court vision allowed him to make the right pass at the right moment, creating open opportunities for his teammates. This was one of the reasons Popovich was concerned.

While Popovich had successfully contained slashers like LeBron James in the past by clogging the paint and daring him to shoot from outside, Lian Dao posed a different kind of threat. Lian Dao's shooting ability made it nearly impossible for the Spurs to employ the same tactics they used against LeBron back in 2007.

Back then, the Spurs had used Bruce Bowen to hound James on the perimeter, while Duncan or Robert Horry helped clog the lane, forcing LeBron into uncomfortable jump shots. That strategy had worked perfectly, with the Spurs sweeping the Cavaliers 4-0 in the Finals, as LeBron's shooting percentages plummeted under Bowen's suffocating defense.

But Lian Dao was different—he could shoot from deep with deadly precision, and if the Spurs collapsed on him, he had no problem finding open teammates like Millsap for easy baskets. This versatility made Lian Dao a far more difficult player to defend.