Y13 [EN]: Chapter 213

Y13-213 2011-2012 Regular Season

Shh-

A very small sound. The sound that only occurs when the ball kisses the net. With that quiet, satisfying sound, Youngjae clenched his right hand tightly.

[Oh, Oh!!!! HE SINKS IT!!!!!!]

[WOW! WOW!!! Y13 IS BACK!!!!!]

The Staples Center fell almost silent. Tens of thousands of Lakers fans were stunned by Youngjae’s incredible buzzer-beater, and the few Dallas fans, after a moment of stunned silence, erupted in cheers.

Youngjae didn’t celebrate with his usual flair. He often shouted and showed off with flamboyant plays during exciting games, but now his whole body was trembling with such intense excitement that he couldn’t bring himself to do anything but feel the moment.

All Youngjae could do was close his eyes and savor the victory. His teammates rushed over, their faces alight with excitement, engulfing him in hugs and playful gestures. Some tapped him on the head, others patted his backside. Mark Cuban, the team owner, emerged from the stands and embraced the players on the bench, while Coach Carlisle quietly applauded, observing the jubilant scene on the court. Everyone seemed swept up in the joy of victory.

[The curse of Y13 is finally broken! It finally descends upon Staples Center!! With this shot, the score is 70 to 73! The away team, Dallas Mavericks, takes the win! The Lakers showed a relatively improved performance in the 4th quarter, so overtime would have been exciting, but it wasn’t meant to be.]

[Youngjae Yoon! His first 3-pointer of the day! I thought he would avoid 3-pointers since he’d missed all 5 of his previous attempts, but he casually launches one from that distance! Metta Sandiford-Artest’s (formerly Ron Artest, also known as Metta World Peace) screen created just enough space, delaying the shot contest! If World Peace still had the agility from his Defensive Player of the Year days, it might have been possible to block it, but with his heavier build and diminished quickness, it was impossible!]

Charles Barkley also repeatedly praised Youngjae’s amazing buzzer-beater, showering him with compliments.

[While the Lakers’ defense was focused on Jason Terry, who made the only 3-pointer for Dallas today, and Dirk Nowitzki, who made nearly every shot in the 4th quarter, Youngjae Yoon unexpectedly finishes it! I didn’t expect Yoon to take that shot! Jason Kidd’s awareness and trust in finding the player with the best opportunity, and his belief in the young player, created this outcome.]

[Wow, that young player has nerves of steel!! He would have been responsible for the loss if that shot had failed. That’s why veterans usually handle the clutch situations! But Jason Kidd recognized the situation and gave Youngjae Yoon the opportunity, and Youngjae Yoon proved why he is Dallas’s ace this season!]

Shaquille O’Neal also seemed deeply impressed by the final play, offering rare praise and complimenting Dallas’s execution.

[Yoon’s calm clutch shooting was fantastic, but Dallas’s play design was also perfect. Tyson Chandler helped create space for Nowitzki and Terry’s movements, and Terry and Nowitzki also worked to secure enough shooting room! The Lakers’ response was decent, but they over-committed to blocking Nowitzki, and as a result, a gap was created by Nowitzki’s reverse screen! And Kidd’s precision in delivering the pass to Yoon in that situation was incredible!!]

[Looking at the stats, the Lakers finished today with 0-11 on 3-pointers, and Dallas with 2-22. Dallas had a slightly better success rate, but considering the number of misses, neither team shot well from beyond the arc. But one of those two makes became the game-winning shot!]

The Staples Center, still buzzing after the game-winning shot, remained electric. LA Lakers fans, unable to believe their team’s loss, cursed and grumbled as they exited the stadium, while the eyes of Dallas fans and reporters were fixed on the game’s hero.

“Mike Jimenez from ESPN. I’ll be interviewing today’s MVP, Youngjae Yoon. Yoon? Nice to meet you.”

Youngjae smiled and greeted Mike Jimenez warmly.

“Yes. Nice to meet you, Mike. Long time no see. I wanted to thank you for improving my image with your social media posts, and I’ll do it now. Thank you, Mike.”

Mike Jimenez chuckled at Youngjae’s witty remark, making a mental note of it, and the interview began in a positive atmosphere.

“Do you think you’ll gain even more recognition after today’s game-winning shot? Considering today’s game was against the league’s most popular team and broadcast nationwide, many fans were watching, and I expect Yoon’s votes will increase rapidly in the ongoing All-Star voting. How do you feel about that?”

At the mention of the All-Star vote, Youngjae waved his hand dismissively, looking slightly embarrassed.

“Oh, I hadn’t thought about that at all. An All-Star starter position is very difficult to achieve… I think I need to improve a lot more to make that possible. Isn’t that what the All-Star Game is all about?”

Youngjae was still processing the excitement of the game. He was in the spotlight because of the game-winning shot, but the overall performance of both teams had been lackluster, and he was aware of that. It would be presumptuous to expect a surge in All-Star fan votes based on one lucky shot.

“Aren’t you being too modest? Haha! Still, it’s undeniable that Youngjae Yoon, in only his second year, has defied expectations of a sophomore slump or becoming a bust, and has developed into an ace player this season. I think you deserve to have some confidence, Yoon.”

The NBA All-Star Game features teams from the Western and Eastern Conferences. Sixty players (24 guards, 24 forwards, and 12 centers) are nominated for each conference, and fan voting takes place over about a month. Voting isn’t limited to one vote per person; fans can vote every day. In other words, one person could cast dozens of votes.

From these nominees, the center with the most votes, along with two forwards and two guards, become All-Star starters. Seven additional players are selected by the votes of the 30 team coaches, and these seven are called reserves. In total, 24 players are selected as All-Stars from the entire league.

“I still have a long way to go. There are incredibly talented guards in the West, like Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul. Compared to them, I feel like I’m just beginning my journey. Kobe Bryant, who I played against today, was a constant threat, and even though our performance wasn’t great, he didn’t lose confidence and scored 14 points, doing his best to secure the victory until the end. I’m just going to work hard to be considered for the reserve team.”

In reality, Kobe Bryant, boasting immense popularity in the United States, was virtually guaranteed a spot regardless of the voting results. While popularity can influence the outcome, his undeniable skill ensured that his popularity wasn’t just a fleeting trend, making it nearly impossible to displace him.

Chris Paul was also extremely popular, holding a significant lead over the third-place contender. Like Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul was considered one of the best guards in the league, on par with any active player in terms of skill. With only two starting guard spots available in the Western Conference, Youngjae wasn’t immediately aiming for those coveted positions. He knew it was an unrealistic goal.

Dallas is a large market, but it pales in comparison to LA, New York, and Chicago, and his personal popularity was regionally limited, making comparisons to Kobe and Paul embarrassing. Furthermore, Youngjae’s playing style was steady and reliable, which, while effective, appeared less flashy compared to the explosive styles of Kobe or Paul, who frequently delivered highlight-reel performances. Skill-wise, it was generally accepted that Kobe and Paul were superior to Youngjae.

“You’re still being humble in today’s interview. But in my opinion, it wouldn’t be surprising to call you a star already. I think you could show a little more confidence and swagger.”

“Ah~ I can’t do that because it doesn’t suit my personality. One thing I can promise is that I will work harder to avoid games like today in the future. And I would appreciate it if you could vote for me in the All-Star voting.”

Youngjae smoothly concluded the interview, ending with a direct appeal to the fans. Even if he claimed not to have great ambition, it would be a lie to say he had none at all. He simply wouldn’t be overly disappointed if it didn’t happen, but Youngjae himself would be thrilled if he were selected.

[Amazing Clutch Victory! – LA LAKERS Game -]

2012.01.17

In the game against the LA Lakers on January 16, Dallas narrowly won 73 to 70. If Yoon Youngjae’s buzzer-beater 3-pointer hadn’t gone in, the game would have gone to overtime, and considering our performance in the 4th quarter, we likely would have lost. Lakers games are typically either a complete blowout or a nail-biting affair, making this victory even more exciting. (Even with that kind of performance…)

I looked up the Dallas Mavericks’ game results (in other words, I did some useless research). There were many close games against teams like Milwaukee, Lakers, Clippers, Phoenix, Portland, Atlanta, San Antonio, Golden State, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Memphis, Minnesota, Denver, Utah, and Sacramento.

– The Last 10 Years of Dallas’s Prime

Don Nelson Coach

2002-03 Season 22 wins 18 losses (55%) – Western Conference Finals Eliminated, Close Game Ratio 39% (Clutch Games Compared to Number of Games)

2003-04 Season 14 wins 15 losses (48%) – 1st Round Eliminated, Close Game Ratio 33%

2004-05 Season 17 wins 11 losses (61%) – 2nd Round Eliminated, Close Game Ratio 40%

Avery Johnson Coach

2004-05 Season 8 wins 3 losses (73%) – 2nd Round Eliminated, Close Game Ratio 50%

2005-06 Season 31 wins 12 losses (72%) – Finals Loss, Close Game Ratio 41%

2006-07 Season 27 wins 6 losses (82%) – 1st Round Eliminated, 67 Wins in Regular Season, Close Game Ratio 38%

2007-08 Season 16 wins 18 losses (47%) – 1st Round Eliminated, Close Game Ratio 32%

Rick Carlisle Coach

2008-09 Season 23 wins 14 losses (62%) – 2nd Round Eliminated, Close Game Ratio 40%

2009-10 Season 24 wins 12 losses (67%) – 1st Round Eliminated, Close Game Ratio 41%

2010-11 Season 32 wins 18 losses (64%) – Championship, Close Game Ratio 49%

In Don Nelson’s era, the team achieved good results with clutch players like Nowitzki (Novi), Michael Finley, and Steve Nash playing together in the 2002-03 season, when the defense was solid.

You might think that the win rate in close situations decreased compared to Avery Johnson’s era, but Dallas dominated the regular season during that time. Avery Johnson’s win rate was the highest among coaches who had coached more than 200 games, exceeding 71%. They even had a 67-win season, the second-highest of all time. Nowitzki was in his prime during those 2005-07 seasons. He could have easily won three consecutive MVP awards.

Especially in the 2006-07 season, shots that shouldn’t have gone in seemed to always fall, resulting in an unusually high win rate.

However, they continued to struggle in the playoffs, leading to Carlisle’s hiring. Although the regular season record dipped slightly, they eventually achieved the ultimate goal of winning the championship. The last three years with Kidd and Carlisle saw many close games and a consistent win rate. This was due to Kidd’s basketball IQ (BQ) and defense, as well as the clutch performances of Terry, Kidd, and Nowitzki. There were numerous come-from-behind victories, and they often secured wins with reliable free-throw shooting. All these factors combined to create the championship team.

I’m satisfied that the regular season record in close games has declined slightly, as the playoff record has improved. Even if the regular season record drops by a few wins, the club, players, and fans all prioritize a deeper playoff run.

In today’s game, the emergence of Dallas’s new reliable player, Yoon Youngjae, allowed them to defeat the Lakers with a miraculous shot. With this win, the Mavericks, with a record of 9 wins and 5 losses, maintained a 67% win rate with 2 wins and 1 loss in clutch games.

============================ Author’s Afterword ============================

★Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered, recommended, commented, and used coupons!!

＠To be continued… I tried using the cliffhanger technique from dramas with Cafe0ne ads in real life for the first time, but the result was a huge backlash… Cough!

＠The cliffhanger skills in the novels I’ve been reading on Kakao Page [a Korean webtoon/novel platform] lately are at the max level. I thought it might be fun to try that kind of thing sometimes, so I did… but I should be careful about using it in the future to avoid being possessed by a devil.

＠This game-winning shot was a success. It’s actually my first time writing about a game-winning shot. I’m sure there will be more attempts like this in the future. I’ll have to experience both the bitterness of failure and the sweetness of success.

＠I also read Reporter Yeom’s Dallas column. I agree with most of it. Evaluating the front office is naturally a matter of hindsight, so the Cuban and Nelson front office of the 2011-2014 period is difficult to assess favorably.

Personally, I think Dallas’s ability to identify or develop rookies is much lower than San Antonio’s Big 3 [Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili], and Kidd and Terry were getting too old. On top of that, Miami, which succeeded with that approach, was dominating the league. So Cuban probably devised the 3D (Deron Williams, Dwight Howard, Dirk Nowitzki) free agency strategy. I think pursuing that strategy was reasonable up to a point. In fact, at the time, the media and experts predicted that Deron would choose Dallas more than 90% of the time. And if Deron came, Kidd said he would gladly be a backup, and Howard said he was only considering Dallas and New Jersey (Deron’s team at the time) if he left Orlando.

The problem was that the Deron recruitment effort was too lukewarm. I heard that New Jersey gave up on the future and signed Joe Johnson, which swayed Deron’s decision to stay, while PT [Public Transportation, likely a metaphor for a poorly planned strategy] was implemented from the entrepreneurial side without a specific plan.

If this 2012 free agency strategy failed, they should have initiated a proper rebuild, but in 2013, they signed Collison, Mayo, Kaman, and Brand for only one year to attract Paul and Howard, ultimately failing to reach the playoffs. Everyone was focused on their individual stats, resulting in a lack of teamwork. It was also a season when Nowitzki was sidelined with a long-term injury. I believe Carlisle was responsible for 50% of that failure.

And the culmination of Cuban’s blunders was Rajon Rondo. No matter how bad Nelson’s defense was, and even though the team’s defense ranked in the middle to lower tiers, resulting in a win rate of less than 30% against the league’s top teams, I think it was a mistake for Cuban to bring in Rondo, who required a complete overhaul of the team’s offense mid-season. Nelson is a much better fit for Dallas’s tactics than Rondo.

In the end, they aimed for the simultaneous signing of DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews, which was their last resort this season, and it was a sound strategy. They had sufficient salary cap space. The problem was that there were almost no free agent players left due to DeAndre Jordan’s change of heart and the Clippers’ interference. If DeAndre Jordan had changed his mind and contacted them immediately, they might have been able to salvage the situation. Now Dallas is left with only a rebuilding option. Nowitzki’s defense is among the worst in the power forward league. In this preseason, eight players are suffering from injuries (Deron, Matthews, Parsons, Nowitzki, McGee, Felton, Powell, Mezhri). The playoffs seem unlikely. Unless all the lottery centers [high draft picks] suddenly develop into stars and Deron, Matthews, and Parsons recover from their injuries and return to their top form…

＠I will try to make more changes in various ways.