Rookie on Fire

Lian Dao's stellar performance in his first month earned him the prestigious Player of the Month award, making headlines across the league. It was a historic achievement, as Lian Dao became only the second rookie in NBA history, after Larry Bird, to receive this honor during their debut season. Even legends like Michael Jordan and LeBron James hadn't accomplished this feat in their rookie years.

The media showered Lian Dao with praise, dubbing him "the rookie whose debut was already his peak," hailing him as one of the most promising young players in NBA history.

As the calendar turned to December, the Knicks prepared for their first game of the month against the Phoenix Suns. The Suns, coached by Alvin Gentry, were no pushovers. Gentry, having learned from D'Antoni's run-and-gun system, continued to emphasize a fast-paced, three-point heavy offense.

In fact, the 2009-2010 season saw the Suns become one of the premier three-point shooting teams in the league. Even their center, Channing Frye, posed a threat from beyond the arc. Led by the legendary playmaker Steve Nash and the ever-reliable Grant Hill, who seemed to defy age with his consistent performances, the Suns were a formidable opponent. And, of course, they had Amare Stoudemire, whose power in the paint was well known, although his three-point shooting left much to be desired.

For D'Antoni, this game was crucial—not only to end the Knicks' losing streak but also to prove the effectiveness of his own fast-paced system against the Suns, who had adopted a similar philosophy.

The game was highly anticipated. Both teams, with their run-and-gun offenses, seemed like mirror images of each other, and fans were eager to see how the showdown would unfold.

D'Antoni stuck with the Knicks' usual starting lineup of Chris Duhon, Wilson Chandler, Lian Dao, Paul Millsap, and David Lee. The Suns countered with Steve Nash, Jason Richardson, Grant Hill, Amare Stoudemire, and Channing Frye.

Right from the start, the Suns set the tone with an early jumper from Stoudemire. The Knicks, however, entrusted Lian Dao with the jump ball for the first time.

Interestingly, Stoudemire had a personal grudge against Lian Dao. The Suns' front office had once floated the idea of trading him for Lian Dao, which left Stoudemire furious. He vowed to dominate Lian Dao and prove to the Suns' management that they had made a mistake even considering such a trade.

However, as the season progressed, Stoudemire couldn't ignore the rookie's monstrous performances. Lian Dao had already sent two centers—Bogut and O'Neal—into recovery with his aggressive, relentless style of play. Stoudemire, once full of bravado, began to feel nervous about facing the Knicks' new sensation. He knew Lian Dao was no ordinary rookie, and by this point, any thoughts of trash-talking had disappeared. He didn't want to end up on the injured list like the others.

For Stoudemire, the realization hit hard—this wasn't just a game; it was about self-preservation. After all, no matter how much pride was at stake, it wasn't worth risking an injury to prove a point.

It can be said that Lian Dao has now become something of a villain on the NBA court. Players who consider messing with him have to think twice, especially with two others already in the hospital thanks to his aggressive style.

The so-called tough guys in the NBA are often only tough when facing weaker opponents. Even Ron Artest, during the infamous Palace of Auburn Hills brawl, didn't dare to swing at Ben Wallace but had no problem punching a fan instead.

In this league, if you're tougher than the so-called tough guys, they tend to back off. They won't risk malicious fouls and will instead compete honestly on the court.

That's why this game started on a surprisingly friendly note.

With his impressive vertical leap, Lian Dao outjumped Stoudemire to win the opening tip, giving the Knicks first possession.

Lian Dao immediately received the ball from Wilson Chandler, positioning himself just beyond the three-point line.

Two steps behind the arc, he confidently raised his hand and launched a deep three-pointer.

Grant Hill barely had time to react. He hadn't expected Lian Dao to pull up from such distance right at the start of the game.

All Hill could do was watch as the shot went up.

*Swish!*

This was Lian Dao's signature opening move, something he had done countless times during his NCAA days. But after joining the NBA, such opportunities were rare, mainly because he often didn't win the tip-off.

But this time, the deep three earned him a chorus of boos from the Phoenix crowd.

After all, the Knicks were on the road in Phoenix.

The Suns, however, were struggling in the early moments. Jason Richardson, attempting to pass to Channing Frye, was intercepted by David Lee, who read the play perfectly.

Lee immediately launched a long pass to Lian Dao, who was already on the fast break. As he neared the three-point line, Lian Dao abruptly stopped, pulled up, and drilled another three-pointer—this time a trailing three.

And he nailed it.

The score quickly became 6-0 in favor of the Knicks.

Steve Nash, watching Lian Dao light up the court, began to understand why the Suns had considered trading Stoudemire for him. Initially, Nash wasn't happy about the idea of losing his star big man, but seeing Lian Dao's impact, he realized that the rookie could have transformed the Suns in a way Stoudemire couldn't.

D'Antoni, knowing the Suns' lineup all too well—particularly Nash and Stoudemire—had devised a specific defensive strategy to counter them.

In the first quarter, Chris Duhon was assigned to harass Nash, following D'Antoni's detailed instructions. Meanwhile, Wilson Chandler took on the task of guarding Jason Richardson.

Chandler's defense was exceptional, aided by his long arms and massive wingspan, giving him a wide defensive range. His one-on-one battles with Lian Dao in practice had sharpened his defensive abilities, making him even more formidable.

At 10:38 in the first quarter, Chandler intercepted a pass from Nash intended for Richardson.

He quickly passed the ball to Lian Dao, who, after driving toward the basket, dished it off to the trailing Paul Millsap for a powerful dunk.

At this point, the Knicks were already leading the Suns 10-2, up by 8 points.

Sensing the game slipping away, Steve Nash stepped up. Using his signature pick-and-roll, he drained outside shots and a crucial three-pointer.

Lian Dao couldn't help but compare Nash to a precursor of the future NBA sharpshooter, Steph Curry. Though Nash's three-point volume and range didn't match Curry's eventual dominance, his shooting accuracy was just as terrifying. Last season, Nash averaged 3.3 three-point attempts per game at a 43.9% clip, and this season, he had upped that to 3.6 attempts with a 42.6% accuracy.

That kind of shooting percentage made Nash dangerous from anywhere on the court.

The score now read 10-5.

On the next Knicks possession, Lian Dao used his explosive first step to blow past Grant Hill, almost as if inheriting Hill's own moves from his prime. Drawing a double team, Lian Dao dished it to David Lee, who calmly sank a mid-range jumper.

David Lee was Mr. Reliable from mid-range, and today was no different.

As Lian Dao streaked past him, Grant Hill had a moment of recognition. That quick first step, the smooth turn without losing speed—it reminded him of himself in his younger days. He couldn't help but laugh wryly. He remembered when defenders felt the same frustration trying to guard him as he did now with Lian Dao.

After Grant Hill's severe injury, he had lost that explosive first step that once made him a nightmare for defenders. In response, he reinvented his game, developing a reliable outside shot. But on this day, Lian Dao's defense disrupted Hill, forcing two consecutive missed three-pointers.

The first quarter played entirely to the Knicks' rhythm.

David Lee, in particular, was having a standout performance, proving that basketball isn't just about physicality, but also smarts. He schooled Stoudemire, stealing the ball from him twice with savvy, flexible defense.

Even Lian Dao was impressed with Lee's performance.

At the end of the first quarter, the Knicks led 39-28, holding an 11-point advantage.

Lian Dao began the second quarter on the bench, taking a breather after his strong start.

On the Suns' side, Nash was also resting. Nash was a late bloomer in the league, only breaking out as a star guard at age 26. At the time, many doubted whether someone of his slight build could withstand the physical demands of the NBA. Yet, Nash had proved the doubters wrong, showing that skill, intelligence, and grit could define a player's legend as much as raw physical ability.

At 35, Nash was still putting up impressive numbers, averaging 16.5 points per game. This season, he would once again lead the Suns to the Western Conference Finals, cementing his legacy as one of the league's greatest competitors.

Charles Barkley, the game's commentator and a former Suns player, was rooting for his old team. Barkley had left his prime years in Phoenix and held a deep affection for the Suns. However, his infamous "reverse curse" seemed to strike again, as the Suns, despite having the best record in the Western Conference, found themselves trailing after the first quarter. His colleague Kenny Smith took great pleasure in teasing Barkley for his seemingly jinxed support.

If Suns coach Alvin Gentry knew Barkley was backing his team, he might have paid him to switch allegiances and support the Knicks instead, given Barkley's notorious luck.

The Suns' bench lineup consisted of Goran Dragic, Jason Richardson, Jared Dudley, Lou Amundson, and Channing Frye, tasked with trying to turn the tide while Nash rested.