Y13 [EN]: Chapter 239

Y13-239. 2011-2012 Regular Season

Dallas, fresh off a decisive road victory against Golden State, was riding high, the resolution of a major internal issue fueling their momentum. Youngjae, who had been mired in a slump, demonstrated a return to form during the Golden State game. While not quite at his peak performance from the first half of the season, he was once again a significant contributor.

The day after the Golden State away game, Youngjae helped secure a 100-85, 15-point victory in the home game against the Knicks, posting an impressive 19 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals. His shooting touch, which had been a source of frustration, was also returning, as evidenced by his 7/14 shooting, including 2/4 from three-point range, a promising sign.

Following the home game against the Knicks, Coach Carlisle summoned Youngjae to his office. Youngjae readily accepted the invitation.

“I’m glad to see you’re getting back to your old self. As for the stamina issue, we’ll manage your playing time for now and prioritize rest over training. I don’t foresee any major problems. You seem to have shaken off the slump faster than I anticipated.”

After his slump, Youngjae not only regained his previous form but also displayed a newfound mental fortitude. Coach Carlisle was pleased to see Youngjae back on track, observing that his emotional fluctuations during games had decreased, allowing him to focus more effectively.

‘You still have room to grow. Significant room. It would be a waste if you plateaued here.’

Coach Carlisle, keeping these thoughts to himself, looked at Youngjae expectantly.

“The game against Memphis… It was my worst performance, but also a valuable learning experience. That day, after several disagreements with my teammates, I ended up arguing with my girlfriend, who had traveled a long way to see me.”

“Hmm.”

Youngjae continued, speaking candidly.

“I was completely self-absorbed. Without thinking, I snapped at her, ‘Do you even know what it’s like to play basketball? Do you know how hard this is?’ She had flown to Dallas as soon as her schedule allowed, and I didn’t realize she was pushing herself to the point of exhaustion to be there for me. She even collapsed. Seeing Emily’s tears snapped me out of it. I asked myself, ‘What am I doing?'”

Youngjae paused to drink some water, his throat dry. Coach Carlisle waited patiently for him to continue.

“We’ve been together for two years, and that was the first time we’d really clashed like that. We talked openly about everything we’d been holding back, and I realized how wrong I’d been. Last season, I was brimming with confidence, but I failed to acknowledge that my success was partly due to being a rookie. I kept telling myself I was doing well because I had prepared diligently for the second season, and that I *had* to keep doing well. Because my rookie season was successful, expectations for me this season were incredibly high, and I felt pressured to meet them. I became impatient and rushed… as if I was being chased. I trained excessively, obsessed with the need to improve.”

Coach Carlisle smiled, pleased that Youngjae was articulating his feelings so clearly. The fact that Coach Carlisle, known for his inscrutable “poker face,” was smiling with satisfaction spoke volumes about the trust he placed in Youngjae.

“Yes, that’s exactly how it seemed. You were making rash plays and pushing yourself with unsustainable schedules because of the pressure to succeed. I repeatedly told you to ease up, but… honestly, you’re a unique player. I’ve never seen anyone quite like you. Most players get complacent after some success, but you were trying to overcome the pressure by overtraining… Haha! It was almost foolish. But I’m glad it worked out. Love is a powerful motivator.”

Youngjae smiled sheepishly and nodded.

“Haha, looking back, I realize that the coach, the other coaches, and the captain all advised me not to overdo it, but I didn’t listen. Even though I heard praise and was told I was playing like a veteran, I understand that I still have a long way to go.”

Youngjae, a faint smile on his face, clasped his hands together and spoke with newfound conviction.

“Emily put it this way: ‘I don’t care if you’re not a superstar. I just want you to remember when you first came to the NBA. You’re much better now than you were then, but you’re driving yourself off a cliff. I’d rather you be a little worse than last year and be healthy. Or do you want me to neglect my own health to be more successful?’ Her words made me realize the truth.”

Coach Carlisle nodded, understanding Emily’s perspective. Athletes are human, and a stable home life contributes to mental and physical well-being.

Many players experience performance dips due to new relationships or divorces, so Youngjae’s ability to navigate this crisis with his girlfriend was a blessing.

“Yes, you can get indigestion if you eat too fast. Your performance from last season to now has exceeded everyone’s expectations, including the team’s. Given the team’s situation and your abilities, there was perhaps an excessive expectation placed on you for a second-year player. But I believed you could handle it, thinking you could only become a true ace by enduring the pressure. That was my mistake. You needed some breathing room. Haha, maybe Emily has more coaching talent than I do.”

Youngjae smiled brightly at Coach Carlisle’s praise and nodded. After a moment of comfortable silence, Coach Carlisle drank his coffee. Youngjae sensed that the coach had something else to say and waited patiently.

“So, how are your relationships with the other players?”

Coach Carlisle posed a broad question rather than a direct inquiry. Youngjae understood the underlying meaning. However, his relationships weren’t at a point where he felt comfortable confiding in the coach about any discomfort. They were professional, existing within a competitive environment. As long as there were no issues on the court, it was sufficient.

“…”

Youngjae hesitated before answering, but Coach Carlisle didn’t press him.

“They’re all good people. I’ve received a lot of help, and I expect to continue to do so.”

“Hmm.”

“This offseason, Kidd and Terry both reached out to me about training together, and I spent several months working with them. They are both consummate professionals and veterans.”

Coach Carlisle nodded. “Is that so?” Terry was taking more shots, believing it was the right approach to change Youngjae’s style. He wouldn’t have thought that way last year, but Terry’s efficiency this season had declined. In fact, Coach Carlisle and other players had voiced concerns about this. However, Youngjae continued his story calmly, as if it were inconsequential.

“It’s hard to say that Terry’s actions don’t affect me. But I believe I should prioritize the team’s victory over such minor issues.”

Coach Carlisle’s eyes lit up. Youngjae smiled awkwardly, perhaps a little embarrassed, and continued.

“It’s not a major concern, but I believe the Dallas Mavericks can maintain the momentum from last year. During training camp, I told Kidd that one championship wasn’t enough, and he smiled and said that one ring on each hand would be too lonely.”

“Haha, I didn’t know he had that kind of humor. A player like Kidd would certainly be disappointed with just one championship. The same goes for Nowitzki. Both of them could be aces on any team and deserve immense respect. They are players who can become legends. Of course they’d be hungry for more championships.”

“Yes. So, I want to get through this season with Terry without any conflicts. I believe Terry will also adjust for the sake of winning the championship when my condition improves and we enter the second half of the season and the playoffs. I prefer to focus on a positive future rather than dwell on negativity.”

Coach Carlisle nodded at Youngjae’s straightforward answer and dismissed him. He concluded that if Youngjae maintained this attitude, there wouldn’t be any significant issues within the team, even if Terry’s individual stats suffered slightly. Terry’s loose talk and ill-advised shots weren’t yet affecting the team’s performance or morale. It wasn’t wise for the coach to intervene prematurely in a team with so many veterans.

“Hoo.”

After Youngjae left, Coach Carlisle sat alone in his office, tapping his finger on the table. After a period of contemplation, Coach Carlisle, having considered the relationship between the two players, began to review the charts for the upcoming game.

[I didn’t expect the Orlando Magic to struggle this much! Coach Stan Van Gundy built a team around Howard and a strong perimeter shooting unit and reached the finals. But despite Howard’s presence, their paint zone defense is surprisingly ineffective.]

[Orlando is a team with clear limitations. While their defense is generally solid, their offense is often frustrating. Dallas’s firepower is currently overwhelming opponents.]

March 15th. The Dallas Mavericks continued their strong performance after the Golden State game, fueled by the improved condition of the players. With only one loss to Oklahoma City, they had a record of 6 wins and 1 loss since the Golden State game, maintaining their 3rd place position in the Western Conference with a record of 32 wins and 14 losses.

Their opponent, the Orlando Magic, held 3rd place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 28 wins and 17 losses, trailing the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat.

[Jason Terry passes to Nowitzki on the wing, Nowitzki overpasses to Youngjae Yoon entering the high post!]

Youngjae skillfully receives the pass with his back to the basket. Jason Richardson, guarding Youngjae from behind, struggles to contain him. Richardson, lacking significant strength and only an inch taller than Youngjae, is unable to prevent Youngjae from smoothly transitioning to a face-up position without allowing him to establish position.

Tak-

Youngjae steps back with his left foot, forcing Richardson to anticipate one of three options: a drive to the basket, a pass, or a jump shot. Richardson has been tormented by these options throughout the first quarter. If he gets too close, he risks being screened and allowing an attack on the paint. If he keeps his distance, Youngjae will likely take a jumper.

“…”

Youngjae stands still, his left foot back, staring at Richardson as if taunting him. Holding his ground boldly on the left high post is a potentially risky move, but the Orlando players lack the ability to exploit it. Orlando’s defense relies heavily on Howard’s dominance, but the defensive capabilities of the other four players are below average.

[Oh! What an amazing display of confidence from Youngjae Yoon!]

[As he regains his composure, he’s showcasing his signature moves again! He’s a calm player who knows how to provoke his opponent effectively!]

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

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

＠Hoo, I’m sorry. I didn’t just delay, I took a day off. I only had time to write in the afternoon, so I just took a break.

anguqwhdk/// Yes. It’s long before Curry wore Under Armour shoes, reduced injuries, and exploded his potential.

Yaebes/// Curry is a player that GSW [Golden State Warriors] decided to make the core after giving up Ellis, so he is not available for trade. After the 10-11 season, they tried to trade Curry for Paul, but coach Mark Jackson decided to make Curry the core, making him unavailable for trade. And Harden’s this season has nothing left except free throws. His field goal percentage is also the lowest, and his 3-point percentage was once the lowest… It feels like the acquisition of Lawson has collapsed the team’s balance.

神天花, ㅎ0ㅎ, -DarkANGEL-, 파이넨시아, 사라질영혼, 오마리온/// Haha… Please don’t feel pressured and feel free to write down anything you want to say or ask^^

Ultra10/// It’s Viedrinsh, one of GSW’s two big eaters [referring to players who take a lot of shots] ㅋㅋ. He had a good rebound and shooting touch, so he signed a long-term contract, but he had too much injury proneness, so his form dropped sharply. And he is one of the players with a strange free throw form. I haven’t seen Viedrinsh since 2013. Youngjae spent 5 years on a team where teamwork is essential, and the newly joined club also has a coach who turns the ball a lot and sets a lot of screens, so when he doesn’t feel good, he doesn’t shoot randomly to find his feel, but changes his method ㅋㅋ

잉킹둘/// First of all, Youngjae is a first-round rookie, so he has a 4-year contract with a 2-year guarantee + 2-year team option (the team can decide whether to sign the contract or not) at first. If Youngjae does well, of course, 4 years are guaranteed, and then he becomes a restricted FA [Free Agent]. At this time, there is one condition that is a bit unfair to the player: if the same amount is offered, he must remain with the affiliated club. And a maximum of 5 years contract is possible. Unless the club abandons Youngjae, he will have to be with Dallas for at least 7 years. That’s why LeBron and Bosh spent 7 years with their respective teams and were able to gather in Miami.

Lee Dong-seok/// Curry is getting spicy and mild these days ㅋㅋ

Let’s eat meat/// It’s the beginning of the season and the team is too strong, so I think it will gradually drop little by little. Thanks to Green, Curry is very comfortable in both offense and defense. Of course, if there are no injuries this season, I think he will be in the MVP [Most Valuable Player] race, but I think the season-end record will be much lower than now. Eventually, it will drop as the number of games increases. In the first place, Youngjae is not a player who was inspired by Curry… Of course, I am surprised that Curry is performing better than expected. And Curry’s height and strength as a point guard are lower than Lin’s. Lin is in the top tier of NBA guards in terms of physical ability. It’s a pity that his BQ [Basketball Quotient] and dribbling don’t improve, so he doesn’t develop.

Harpia/// Thank you for your comment^^ He has to come back to life soon. Class doesn’t go anywhere ㅋㅋ