Champion, please stay!

Chapter 211, page 209: A new record for consecutive wins at the start!
Tonight's game didn't attract much attention. After Iverson returned to the 76ers, the team's strength collapsed. After tonight, with 16 games, they have 5 wins and 11 losses, heading towards third from the bottom. Currently, the Sacramento Kings and Brooklyn Nets are in first and second place respectively, with both teams having only won two games so far, giving them a significant lead.

However, the Knicks' pre-game tribute segment gave the game extra attention beyond the game itself. Although it wasn't broadcast nationwide, it garnered very high ratings on American cable television networks, making it into the top ten in pay-TV viewership for the first month.

After the game, Iverson, as the one being honored, naturally became the focus of attention.

With such respect from his opponent, Iverson naturally had to respond. He said to the camera, "I'm glad to have a player like Brook in the NBA at the end of my career. Watching him play is like watching Michael Jordan play on TV when I was a kid. All the forwards look like they're in slow motion in front of him..."

Iverson was also puzzled, even though he had indeed been planning to retire.

Last season was alright. Before the Pistons were forced to tank, he was able to lead the team to the playoffs alongside Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, and Prince. His individual average of 17+6 was also acceptable.

This season, he can no longer accept his own performance.

今晚数据看着还好，末节应现场球迷的呼声，他垃圾时间敢打敢拼，把数据提升到了14投6中、加上5中4的罚球拿到16分7助攻……赛季至今场均13分4助攻。

But he never told anyone that he wanted to retire!

In recent games, wherever he went, a group of opponents expressed their reluctance to see him go. Tonight in the Big Apple, it was even more exaggerated. They gave him jerseys, played tribute videos, and after the game, several young players wanted to exchange jerseys with him. The team didn't have enough spare No. 3 jerseys that they brought to New York!
Thankfully, the Jordan jersey theft incident happened back then, which forced the league to require each team to prepare several spare jerseys for each player; otherwise, if his jersey had been given to Yi Shui, it wouldn't have been given to Curry.

Given the current situation, Iverson feels like he has no choice but to retire!

He could only sigh inwardly, realizing that the fans knew him too well; he still wanted to pull off a surprise retirement...

...

Meanwhile, Yi Shui and Walsh arrived at Dolan's office together.

Dolan had his secretary open a bottle of champagne and toasted with the two men.

"Brook, just like Donnie said, you're a genius in basketball, no matter what you do! We should communicate and cooperate more in the future," Dolan said with admiration.

Yi Shui said politely, "I just had an idea, but you, Boss, have great vision and courage..."

A few days ago, Yi Shui saw the news that after the game between the Heat and the 76ers, Wade took the initiative to exchange jerseys with Iverson for the number 3.

The fact that players don't usually change their jerseys during basketball games has sparked a discussion.

After returning from the game against the Bulls, Yi Shui met Dolan and, during their conversation, suggested that "Iverson's last game here should be a tribute to him."

Dolan joked at the time, saying, "If you like Iverson, then we'll pay tribute to him."

As a result, after they revealed that they were paying tribute to Allen Iverson, the game's popularity soared, and viewership doubled from the expected seven or eight million viewers to over 1570 million!

Affected by the subprime mortgage crisis, the viewership of the four major leagues is still declining. Many fans who used to watch live broadcasts whenever they had free time are now choosing the most popular matches they are interested in.

Almost a month into the season, only 10 matches, including this one, have surpassed 1500 million paid viewerships.

Making money is secondary; what Dolan is most pleased about is that this move has greatly improved the Knicks' reputation.

After chatting with Dolan for a few minutes and having a celebratory glass of champagne, Yi Shui left, as there were back-to-back games tomorrow.

He knew perfectly well that he and the other party were not in the same circle at all; Dolan was the capital, and he was just a laborer.

It was obvious that the other party was just treating him as a 'valuable commodity'. Of course, as long as Dolan continued to be the same as he was during the Thomas era, responsible for writing checks and not interfering with player and logistical matters, he felt there was nothing wrong with that.

This is actually better for him, as he can treat Dolan as a 'unlimited salary supplier within the rules' and a 'top media resource' without any moral guilt.

More communication and cooperation are exactly what he wants; otherwise, he wouldn't have said so much.

...

The following evening, the Knicks hosted the Trail Blazers.

The Trail Blazers are plagued by injuries this season.

Oden, in his second year, became even more efficient, shooting 60% from the field and averaging 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per 24 minutes.

The problem is that he can't play 24 minutes. In his rookie year, he could be protected and his playing time was reduced. This season, he needs to step up and solve problems in the paint. His lack of stamina is starting to become apparent. After all, he hasn't trained properly in the two and a half years since he entered the NBA. He's either been recovering from injuries or undergoing rehabilitation.

That's not all; the injury problem is getting worse. He's only played 8 out of the first 16 games, and he can't play today either.

Nicolas Batum, the French Pippen, showed excellent all-around ability in his rookie year. He could guard positions 1 through 4 on the defensive end, and he had everything on offense, from passing and ball handling to three-point shooting... but he also got injured and hasn't played since the first week.

New signing Wilson Chandler twisted his knee after joining the Trail Blazers due to playing too aggressively and is expected to be out for 8-12 weeks.

Przybila, who played every game last season, has not yet made an appearance this season.

Camby also got injured shortly after joining...

When Yi Shui saw the opposing team's roster, his eyes widened. The former Kings, Suns, and last season's Hawks all used an 8-man rotation voluntarily, but the Trail Blazers were forced into an 8-man rotation!
The Trail Blazers' super frontcourt, once considered comparable to the Lakers', now only has Aldridge, Juwan Howard, and Dante Cunningham capable of playing.

The perimeter players are limited to Andre Miller, Roy, Fernandez, Blake, and Jeff Ayers, with Cunningham, who is running as a small forward, forced to play power forward.

Aldridge emphasized that he is not a center, but he has already embarked on the path of a center...

Despite this, the Trail Blazers still managed a 10-6 start!

At 25, Roy delivered a peak performance, with a field goal percentage of 48%, a three-point percentage of 39%, a long two-point percentage of 45%, and a mid-range percentage of 44%. On the court, he gave the impression of being a Kobe Bryant who wasn't as athletic, but rather someone with better and more consistent shot selection.

After Aldridge secured a 5-year, $6500 million contract extension, he has performed beyond his contract value in the final year of his rookie year, earning him All-Star nominations. However, given his position in the Western Conference, his chances of being selected this year are slim.

The game between the Knicks and the Trail Blazers at 7 p.m. will start.

Tonight, the Knicks had a tough start, trailing the Trail Blazers 18-25 in the first quarter.

Fortunately, at the start of the second quarter, Yi Shui hit a three-pointer despite the defense. On the second offensive possession, Yi Shui faked a slip, cut inside to receive the ball, and scored a 2+1 against Juwan Howard, going on a 6-0 run to bring the two teams back to level terms, trailing by 1 point at 24-25.

ESPN commentator A. Smith remarked during the penalty shootout at the Yishui River: "In the few games I've watched, Embiid has always been chasing points..."

As Smith said, the Knicks, who started the season by sweeping the league with their fast-paced style, began to rely heavily on Yi Shui's one-on-one scoring from some point onwards.

In the remainder of the second quarter, Yi Shui led the team with his individual offensive prowess, going head-to-head with Roy and Aldridge, and scored 24-25. At halftime, the Knicks trailed the Trail Blazers by two points, 48-50, keeping the game close.

In the third quarter, the Knicks, with their numerical advantage, began to take the lead, outscoring the Trail Blazers 26-23 to take a 74-73 lead into the final quarter.

With the Knicks trailing the Trail Blazers 94-95 in the final moments, Curry, who had been struggling all game, stepped up when Yi Shui was double-teamed off the ball. Using a screen from an open Birdman, he hit a three-pointer from the top of the arc, giving the Knicks a 97-95 lead.

Then Roy went one-on-one against Barnes, but missed a step-back three-pointer. On the other end, Curry risked a lob pass, which was successfully passed to Yi Shui, who broke free from the double team of Fernandez and Roy and cut inside. Yi Shui made a layup over Aldridge and also drew a foul on the opponent's hand, making the free throw and sealing the victory!

The game ended with Blake missing a three-pointer.

易水30投13中、其中三分球10中4，加上8中7的罚球，打了44分钟，拿到37分11板3助攻2抢断4盖帽。

加上大卫-李的19分10板、库里的16分7助攻，尼克斯队以100比95险胜开拓者队。

...

With a 15-game winning streak to start the season, the Knicks have tied the NBA record for the longest winning streak to start a season, previously held by the Rockets!

The Knicks did not play on the 30th, which means the Knicks have achieved a rare undefeated record in a single month!

Since the beginning of the new century, only three teams have ever achieved a perfect record in a single month.

From late January to mid-March of the 1999-2000 season, including the All-Star Weekend, the Lakers went 41 days without a loss, achieving a 19-game winning streak.

In the 2006-07 season, the Mavericks went on a winning streak from February to mid-March, achieving a 17-game winning streak.

火箭队在07-08赛季，从08年1月30号开始，连续47天没有输球，拿到22连胜。

The Knicks became the fourth team in the new century to achieve a perfect record in a single month!
This time, no one could steal the spotlight from the Knicks. The next day, the 30th, there were several highly anticipated league games: the Cavaliers visiting the Heat, a showdown between LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, but none of them generated as much buzz as the Knicks and Yi Shui. At noon, the league announced the Players of the Week for Week 4.

上周4场比赛全胜，场均35.75分10板3助攻2.5抢断3盖帽，易水毫无悬念地拿下周最佳球员奖！

西部那边，邓肯终于高光了一回，4场比赛3胜1负，场均25分10.5板2.5助攻2.5盖帽。

With Parker sidelined due to injury, Ginobili struggling to adapt to Popovich's tactical changes, and big-money signings Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess underperforming, Duncan, despite a week of hard work, was still able to perform.

After a day of rest, December 1st has arrived, and a new month has begun.

The league announced the Players of the Month awards for the first month.

As expected, Harden lost the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month award to Jennings, whose performance in one game left many regretting his future.

In the Western Conference, Evans averaged 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in 17 games, making him the undisputed Rookie of the Month.

Coach of the Month: Mike D'Antoni (Eastern Conference) and Nate McMillan (Western Conference).

虽然开拓者队只取得了10胜7负的战绩，不及12胜4负的湖人队、13胜5负的掘金队，但那伤兵满营的状况，能打成那样已经非常惊人。

Carmelo Anthony, who had a 13-4 record and averaged 32 points per game in the first month of the season in the Western Conference, beat out Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Brandon Roy to be named Player of the Month.

In the Eastern Conference, Yi Shui received all the votes from 11 people, including NBA officials, media, and special invited judges, and was selected as the Player of the Month for the first month!
15 wins and no losses, 3 games with 40+ points in a single month, including 1 game with 53 points, only 4 games with a score below 30 points, a single month score of over 500 points, 536 points, an average of 35.73 points per game!
He also averaged 9.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.8 steals, and 2.73 blocks!

With a total of 16 three-pointers made in 4 games in the past week, his monthly average of three-pointers made has soared to 2.5!
Since Yi Shui won the Player of the Week award for the third week, the Player of the Month award for this month is practically a foregone conclusion.

In the evening, the Knicks hosted the Bobcats.

今晚尼克斯队前三节打得还行，首节27分、第二节24分、第三节飙出了30分，山猫队那边，首节20分、第二节23分、第三节也只拿到了23分。

After three quarters, the Knicks led the Bobcats 81-66 by 15 points!
But in the final quarter, the Knicks' offense collapsed! Their long-range shots kept missing!
In fact, the Knicks' outside shooting wasn't very accurate in the first three quarters, but the Bobcats kept focusing on their perimeter defense, giving the Knicks' forwards plenty of opportunities to cut inside.

In the final quarter, the Bobcats' perimeter defense focused on either marking Yi Shui, who had been taking a lot of long-range shots recently, or blocking him under the basket. This strategy worked, limiting the Knicks to just 18 points in the final quarter!
The Bobcats relied on Felton, Gerald Wallace, and Chandler to launch fast breaks, scoring 29 points in the quarter and closing the gap to 11 points!
Fortunately, the Knicks had a large enough lead in the first three quarters, and ultimately the Knicks narrowly defeated the Bobcats 99-95, achieving a 16-game winning streak, surpassing the Rockets and setting a new record for the longest winning streak at the start of the season!

...

Since they beat the Pistons to achieve a 10-game winning streak, people have been discussing the possibility of them breaking the record for the longest winning streak at the start of the season.

Even after it was actually broken, it still felt unbelievable.

The Knicks only have three players averaging double-digit points per game: Yi Shui, Curry, and David Lee. That's it.

Duhon, Barnes, Birdman, Harrington, and other role players in the final year of their contracts suddenly became highly sought-after, with fans from all teams urging their respective teams to snatch them up.

On December 3rd, the Knicks traveled to Charlotte to play the Bobcats at home, and then went on to play the Bobcats again on the road.

They've already won 16 straight games. Whether they genuinely support them or are just there for the spectacle, everyone's started chanting "championship winning streak," which is 18 consecutive wins. Various TV stations have also added extra broadcasts of this game.

Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, Yi Shui and his teammates ultimately lost to the Bobcats 89-97 on the road, ending their winning streak.

The Bobcats' strategy tonight was simple and brutal, summed up in one word—defense!

Blocking the basket, double-teaming Yi Shui, and letting the others shoot or not – that was the same strategy we used in the final quarter of the last game.

In his past life, Yi Shui loved to tease the Rockets for missing three-pointers in a row. This time, he witnessed it firsthand: his teammates made 7 out of 25 three-point attempts... When his teammates missed 10 three-pointers in a row, he was completely stunned.

However, he only made 2 of 10 three-point attempts tonight... The team made 9 of 36 three-point attempts. If they win, it would be very unfair.

After the game, when Yi Shui returned to the hotel to review the match, he felt that Larry Brown's defensive skills were truly outstanding.

It seemed like they were playing a very simple and straightforward game: one-on-one play plus counter-attacks.

But Larry Brown did an excellent job of rotating the lineup during each timeout.

On their side, D'Antoni's offensive adjustments were actually very good, but if he couldn't make the shots, no matter how good the offensive adjustments were, it wouldn't matter.

They also lack the ability to win through defense, unlike the Bobcats.

In these two games, the Bobcats' performance that surprised Yi Shui the most was not Stephen Jackson, who still maintained an average of 20+ points per game after switching teams, but Elvis Wallace, whose lungs were blown out by a third.

赛季至今场均17.5分9.5板2助攻2.1抢断1.1盖帽，虽然没能像上赛季开局那样场均20+10，也没能再打出2+抢断2+盖帽的疯狂防守表现，但能从上赛季后半段那么糟糕的状态，回升到当下的水平……顽强！
Extremely tough!
But the more this is the case, the more regrettable it becomes.

If Jordan had been willing to take on Stephen Jackson's big contract last year, at least a one-for-one trade with the Lakers could have been arranged, and Bynum might not have dared to go too far. That elbowing incident wasn't Bynum's first big move that night; he had already started causing trouble when the team was far behind.

After reviewing the game, Yi Shui moved his chair to the balcony and looked at the lake view below. The 16-game winning streak was crazy, and he wanted to continue winning. Before the game, he couldn't accept losing.

But at that moment, he really felt relieved.

He scored 32 points on 12-of-33 shooting tonight... He's willing to take responsibility, but even he can't stand his performance.

In fact, Yi Shui had sensed that his teammates' performance was declining since the game against the Pistons. He was not surprised, as the team's three-point shooting percentage of 42.5% in the previous few games was too good.

But ever since they started playing the Pistons, their team's three-point shooting percentage has never exceeded 40%.

It was after the game against the Pistons that he started to increase his shot attempts. In the last 7 games, he took more than 30 shots in 3 games and around 25 shots in the other 4 games.

前10场场均22投12中拿到34.8分，最近7场场均27投13中拿到36分，从220投120中、到413投211中，命中率已经跌到51%了。

His playing time has also increased from an average of 37 minutes per game at the beginning of the season to an average of 42 minutes per game in the last 7 games.

The biggest increase in shot attempts was in three-point shooting, which almost doubled. In the first 10 games, he took a total of 45 three-point attempts, but in the last 6 games of the 16-game winning streak, he took a total of 51 three-point attempts.

Fortunately, he was accurate in those games, making 22 of 51 three-point attempts, averaging 3.5 of 8.5 attempts per game, for a 41.1% success rate.

But he couldn't make his shots tonight, and the team's offense completely collapsed.

But if he had to choose again... he would still choose the winning streak. If he could continue the winning streak, he could keep fighting. So what if he missed 20 shots in a single game? Even if he missed 20 shots per game, as long as he could win, that was fine.

...

After playing the Bobcats, the Knicks still have two away games to play.

The next day, the team's scheduled flight was in the afternoon. Yi Shui, Curry, and Chalmers got up early, preparing to take a trip to Davidson, a town not far away, and have lunch at Curry's hometown.

While having breakfast, the three ran into the coaching staff and discussed the upcoming match plans.

D'Antoni: "Brook, Stephen, your playing time will be reduced from now on. You've been playing too much lately. You're both still young, you need to prioritize your health..."

Not only has Yi Shui been playing over 40 minutes per game recently, but Curry's playing time has also surged from a stable 27 to 29 minutes per game at the beginning of the season to around 35 minutes.

Neither Yi Shui nor Curry had any objections to this... In any case, if they couldn't win, they would just temporarily increase their playing time.

Chalmers was quite pleased. Curry played a lot of time, which mainly reduced his playing time. Hughes and Duhon's playing time of around 20 minutes was fixed.

They also discussed adjustments to the game strategy and tactics.

The Knicks' good start wasn't just about accurate shooting; the players' on-court coordination was also excellent, and their clear thinking provided the coaching staff with many tactical ideas.

I was winning a lot before, so it wasn't easy to adjust, but now I can finally get into the swing of things.

During the conversation, Yi Shui sensed that the end of the winning streak had not dampened the spirits of his two close teammates and coaches. They had both chosen to look forward and embark on the next stage of their journey.

That's a 16-game winning streak! The confidence boost it gave them is no less than last season's 55 wins and Eastern Conference Finals!

(End of this chapter)