Y13 [EN]: Chapter 112

Y13-112 (112/296)

00112 2010-2011 Playoff Round 1 =========================================================================

[2010-2011 NBA Playoff Round 1 Preview]

The first matchup in this playoff preview features the Dallas Mavericks and the Portland Trail Blazers. Dallas has returned to the top of the Western Conference for the first time in four years, since the 2006-2007 season when they posted a remarkable 67-15 record (second-best in franchise history). Portland barely secured the 8th seed despite Brandon Roy’s absence due to injury. Despite Dallas’s top seeding, they are considered the team with the highest potential for an upset in the Western Conference, due to their inconsistent performance in the second half of the season, particularly after March, and Portland’s strong finish. The two teams split their regular-season series 2-2, each winning their home games.

Dallas (62-20/West 1st) 103.8 points per game (5th in league), 94.6 points allowed per game (6th in league), Field goal percentage 48.2% (4th), 3-point percentage 37.4% (8th), Rebounds 41.4 (11th), Assists 24.2 (2nd), Steals 7.9 (14th), Blocks 4.5 (21st).

Dallas has been a regular-season juggernaut, achieving 50 or more wins in the past 11 years and making the playoffs for 11 consecutive years, boasting the best regular-season winning percentage in the last six years. However, they have struggled in the playoffs, only reaching the NBA Finals once as a runner-up. They’ve been eliminated in the first round in three of the last four years, a disappointing contrast to their rival, the San Antonio Spurs. Coach Rick Carlisle has expressed concerns about the team’s mental toughness and focus. Dirk Nowitzki may remember receiving the MVP trophy four years prior, but despite their regular-season success, the Mavericks appear to have more vulnerabilities than strengths heading into the playoffs.

Strengths: The Mavericks boast a core of seasoned veterans, including Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, and Peja Stojakovic, all with significant playoff experience. This wealth of experience, combined with their ability to score in bunches from the perimeter, makes them a dangerous team when they get hot.

Dallas has a dominant 46-3 record in games where they score 100 points or more. If they can dictate a fast tempo and high-scoring game, few teams can match them. Furthermore, having a go-to player like Dirk Nowitzki, who historically averages over 25 points and 10 rebounds in the playoffs, is a major advantage. The coaching staff, led by Rick Carlisle, is also among the league’s best.

Weaknesses: The declining stamina of the starting players towards the end of the season is a concern. As the team with the highest average age in the league, they struggled to maintain a high winning percentage down the stretch. Key players like Kidd, Terry, and Marion showed signs of wear and tear. The loss of Caron Butler to injury, Rodrigue Beaubois’s inconsistency, and Brendan Haywood’s historically poor free-throw shooting further compound their problems.

Beyond their starting lineup and key rotation players, the Mavericks have shown vulnerabilities in the second half of the season. Carlisle has skillfully maximized the strengths of players with defined roles, but it’s questionable whether this approach will hold up in a short playoff series. Dallas thrives in high-scoring games, but playoff defenses tend to limit those opportunities. The increased playing time for starters in the playoffs can also lead to fatigue and defensive breakdowns.

Key Player: Dirk Nowitzki remains the constant for Dallas. However, the team relies too heavily on him, especially for a top seed. Youngjae Yoon, a rookie, is being asked to contribute as a second scoring option, a perimeter defender, and even a penetrator. In the regular season, Yoon showed flashes of combining the skills of Kidd, Terry, and Barea. Last season, Kidd, Terry, and Marion’s playoff performance dipped significantly compared to their regular-season numbers. Can this young rookie handle the pressure and focused defensive attention of his first playoffs and perform at the same level as he did during the regular season?

Portland (46-36/West 8th) 96.1 points per game (24th in league), 94.8 points allowed per game (7th in league), Field goal percentage 44.7% (24th), 3-point percentage 34.5% (21st), Rebounds 39.3 (27th), Assists 21.2 (16th), Steals 8.2 (5th), Blocks 4.4 (21st).

The absence of Brandon Roy, their primary scorer, due to injury is a significant blow. LaMarcus Aldridge’s emergence as an All-Star-caliber player allowed them to secure the final playoff spot, but they are a team prone to injuries and must be cautious. Fortunately, they enter the first game of the playoffs with their starting rotation healthy.

Portland has traditionally been a strong home team, earning the moniker “home bullies.” To win the series, they need to protect their home court and steal at least one game on the road. The mid-season acquisition of Gerald Wallace has given them momentum, as evidenced by their 6-2 record against the top four teams in the Western Conference.

Strengths: LaMarcus Aldridge is one of the league’s most successful alley-oop finishers and possesses a versatile offensive game with a wide shooting range. His partnership with Andre Miller’s steady leadership creates excellent synergy, and Miller’s presence provides stability in critical moments.

Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews, and Rudy Fernandez offer reliable three-point shooting and penetration, fueling Portland’s offense. The addition of All-Star forward Gerald Wallace has also bolstered their defense.

Weaknesses: Portland struggles with field goal percentage and rebounding. The increased use of smaller lineups with Gerald Wallace may contribute to this, but failing to control the boards in the playoffs can lead to quick defeats. Furthermore, outside of Marcus Camby, they lack rim protection and shot-blocking.

While Aldridge and others have stepped up in Roy’s absence, their offensive output remains among the league’s lowest. Head Coach Nate McMillan needs a strategy to break down Dallas’s strong defense. It’s questionable whether Batum, Matthews, and Fernandez can consistently penetrate the perimeter defense of Kidd, Yoon, and Marion, especially considering Dallas’s league-leading three-point defense.

Key Player: For Portland to win, LaMarcus Aldridge must perform at least on par with Dirk Nowitzki. Aldridge has not yet reached Nowitzki’s level of consistency. Matching Nowitzki’s playoff intensity will be a challenge, and if Aldridge is outplayed, Portland will likely struggle. Gerald Wallace and the other swingmen cannot be relied upon to consistently score 20 points. The fate of this team rests squarely on Aldridge’s shoulders.

[ESPN=Mark Stein]

2011.04.14

Re: Wow, the 1st and 8th seeds, but the round with the highest upset potential? Is this reporter anti-Dallas?

Re: Have you ever seen such an ignorant person? Mark Stein is one of the most credible reporters among NBA reporters. Tsk tsk.

Re: Moreover, he’s a reporter from the Dallas area, so he’s more likely to praise them than be against them.

Re: But then other reporters must be even worse. Seriously, are we going to see a repeat of Nowitzki’s MVP days?

Re: Nowitzki did join the 50-40-90 club [shooting 50% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 90% from the free-throw line] this season, but Derrick Rose will probably receive the MVP award. Dallas and Nowitzki have been struggling in the second half of the season.

Re: When will this team ever win a championship…

Re: But even if they get through here, they’ll probably lose to the Lakers or Oklahoma City. Even if they’re lucky enough to go to the Finals, the Bulls or Miami are waiting.

Re: Portland also suffers every year due to injuries, but this time, fortunately, everyone is healthy except for Roy. Of course, Roy’s injury is the biggest.

Youngjae prepared to meet with Bill Duffy the day after the final regular-season game against New Orleans, as promised. After finishing morning practice and showering, he put on his best clothes and drove his SUV to the restaurant. Knowing that Youngjae didn’t particularly like flashy and luxurious things, Duffy chose a popular, but not overly extravagant, Korean restaurant in Texas.

“Welcome.”

However, an unexpected person stood up and shook hands with Youngjae.

“Nice to meet you.”

A giant of 7-6 (229cm), a full 33cm taller than Youngjae. It was Yao Ming, the “Great Wall of China” in the NBA. Youngjae, surprised by the unexpected figure, shook hands with Yao Ming in a daze. Yao Ming simply smiled and sat down without saying much.

“I considered Yoon’s preferences, but please let me know if the food doesn’t suit your taste.”

“Ah, that’s okay, but… I never thought I would see Yao Ming suddenly…”

Youngjae was so flustered that even his usually fluent speech stuttered. Yao Ming smiled slightly as he watched Youngjae and took a sip of water.

“The NBA is the most challenging sports league for Asian players, and I wanted to meet you because you’re making such a splash in your first season. Duffy introduced us. I’m sorry I couldn’t meet you on the court.”

“Haha, that’s how it happened. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you in advance,” Duffy said.

The two talked freely as if they were close friends. Youngjae realized once again that Bill Duffy was truly a player-centered agent and that many of his clients genuinely respected him and maintained close relationships with him.

“Actually, Yao has only played five games this season and has been rehabilitating after surgery earlier this year, but his injury isn’t healing well. He’s seriously considering retirement.”

Youngjae nodded at Duffy’s words. In his past life, Yao Ming had announced his retirement at the end of this 2010-2011 season. It was widely covered in the media, and he remembered it clearly because he was an Asian player.

“So, I wanted to meet you, Youngjae, while I’m still a player. I wanted to hear your story and offer any advice that might be helpful, though I don’t know how much help it will be.”

Youngjae was initially flustered by the sudden meeting with Yao Ming, but he knew that such an opportunity was rare, so he gladly accepted Yao Ming’s invitation. The food arrived, and the three began to eat and talk.

“How is NBA life? Is it okay? Fortunately, the Texas area, where your team is located, has a good climate and a large Korean population, making it easier to adapt to.”

“Yes, I’m enjoying it. I haven’t had any problems with the food or weather. Food and language aren’t issues because I’ve been in the United States for several years, and the club provides excellent support. I didn’t expect to finish college in just one year and be drafted into the NBA, so I felt a bit overwhelmed, but it’s been a satisfying year.”

From Youngjae’s perspective, it had been a truly fruitful rookie season. He remained in contention for Rookie of the Year, emerging as Blake Griffin’s primary rival, although he nearly succumbed to a slump due to a sudden mental setback in the second half of the season. However, he overcame it and finished the season strong.

“I’ve been through a lot, but it’s been a precious year for me.”

Most importantly, Youngjae had done his best to change his fate from his past life, and he was proud that his nine years of experience and the year he had spent honing his skills at NCAA were finally paying off. He was beginning to truly enjoy basketball again.

“Haha! Just as Duffy said, you’re humble but not servile, confident but not arrogant. You don’t seem like a rookie at all. You seem very experienced.”

Youngjae bowed his head and thanked Yao Ming for his praise, then drank some water. It felt awkward to be praised by a player from another team, especially the best Asian player in the league.

============================ Author’s Notes ============================

★Thank you to those who gave me advance reservations, recommendations, comments, and coupons.

＠I am grateful for the opinions of the readers. Our novel is looking at a minimum of 3 seasons. We are avoiding a rushed ending. Achieving everything in one season and ending with a rapid development is not in line with what we are aiming for. We are trying to incorporate as many diverse episodes and information as possible into the novel.

＠Today, the total amount of FA [free agent] contracts in the NBA was $1.4 billion. It seems that the large-scale 4-5 year contracts exploded on the first day due to the expansion of the salary cap, and most players’ salaries increased by 1.5 to 2 times or more. In two years, there will be dozens of players who receive more salary than Clayton Kershaw [MLB pitcher] or Miguel Cabrera [MLB hitter]. LeBron’s maximum in two years will exceed $35 million.

Shooting Start/// Thank you. What should have been written at the end was written in duplicate ㅠ.ㅠ

ㅎ0ㅎ/// lol I’m also a mystery…

쿤다라, zigichacha, 찬란한유산, 오마리온, 파이넨시아, huhcafe/// Thank you for your comments as always!! Have a good day today~~

라피르and진트/// That’s right. But Melo… honestly, he chose money over his career… and his performance last year was also very disappointing. I think there’s too much of a skill gap between him and LeBron now. Considering Melo’s age and recent performance due to injuries, I don’t think any team will give Melo a maximum contract in 3 years.

misscherry/// He needs to gain playoff experience and grow by training more during the off-season lol

야베스/// Maybe with this setting, that would have been possible. But because of his physical style, it’s not easy to do a one-man show… Stephen Curry and Youngjae’s styles shine more in strong teams, and I personally think that their stats wouldn’t be as inflated as you might think in tanking teams. These two have more off-the-ball movement than you might think.

And the contract period changes with each CBA [Collective Bargaining Agreement] negotiation. I think 10-year contracts were possible in the 90s. I think the longest was 6 or 7 years from 2005 to 2011. From 2011 onwards, only players who meet certain conditions can get 5 years, otherwise, 4 years is the maximum. These contract-related clauses are dozens of pages long, so I haven’t memorized them all yet.

캐바밤/// You’re right. In sports novels, once you reach the peak, you’ll run out of things to write after 1-2 years at most. Most of them end when they reach the peak, or add an epilogue or side story after about a year.

anwkdk/// You’re right. We want to include as many episodes as possible, and we’re collecting and looking at a lot of data. I don’t know if we’ll be able to incorporate it well into the novel, but we’ll work hard to make sure it doesn’t become a novel with a rapid development or a rushed ending.