Y13 [EN]: Chapter 56

Y13-56 Regular Season 2010-11

The Dallas Mavericks started the season with a bang, boasting an impressive 80% win rate with 8 wins and 2 losses in their first 10 games. However, the San Antonio Spurs were even hotter, riding an 8-game winning streak to lead the Western Conference with a 9-1 record. The LA Lakers were nipping at their heels, tied for second place with Dallas after their own 8-game winning streak, followed by 2 losses. This pushed Dallas back to second place, even within their own Southwest Division, behind San Antonio.

Dallas’s win rate was the highest it had been in 5 years since 2005, but San Antonio was right there with them. Both teams, good enough to easily dominate other divisions, found themselves in a yearly slugfest within the same division. The Southwest Division, home to Dallas and San Antonio, was known as the WWW (Wild Wild West, a testament to the Western Conference’s overall strength), the most competitive division in the league.

Youngjae gradually increased his role within that strong team and eventually earned a spot in the starting lineup, although his playing time wasn’t quite at the level of a typical starter yet. Coach Rick Carlisle inserted Youngjae into the starting five to address Jason Terry’s defensive shortcomings. When Terry started, opponents would relentlessly target him early in the game, creating a significant defensive liability.

Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Yoon Youngjae, J.J. Barea. These four-guard lineups became a staple for Dallas. Jason Kidd was the undisputed point guard, logging over 30 minutes per game, while Jason Terry played close to 30 minutes as well. Youngjae saw over 20 minutes of action, Barea around 10, and DeShawn Stevenson about 5. Youngjae’s average playing time for the entire season also climbed above 20 minutes, and his scoring average exceeded 12 points per game. This placed him fourth on the team in scoring, behind Nowitzki, Terry, and Butler.

Youngjae’s intelligent play, his maturity beyond his years, and his balanced contributions on both ends of the court were certainly noteworthy. However, what truly captured the media’s attention was his remarkable shooting accuracy. He boasted a field goal percentage of 53%, a 3-point percentage of 47%, and a free throw percentage of 92%. If he could maintain these numbers, he would become a member of the exclusive 180 Club (50% field goal percentage, 40% 3-point percentage, and 90% free throw percentage or higher, with a minimum of 300 field goals, 55 3-pointers, and 125 free throws), the benchmark for elite shooters.

Of course, sustaining such high shooting percentages throughout an entire season is incredibly challenging. The physical demands take their toll, opponents dissect your game, and defensive pressure intensifies.

By consistently creating open looks, capitalizing on high-percentage shots, and converting his free throws (though he didn’t get many per game), Youngjae’s value to the team continued to rise.

“Hoo!”

On November 19th, the Dallas Mavericks (8 wins, 2 losses) were set to face the Chicago Bulls (6 wins, 4 losses) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, in their first matchup of the season.

Shoo-

Youngjae’s shooting felt off today. The ball went in, but the finger roll and the overall sensation left him uneasy. Shots that usually swished cleanly were clanging off the rim before falling, and even after exerting maximum effort, his finger roll wasn’t perfect. Youngjae couldn’t help but frown.

Like batting in baseball, shooting touch is notoriously fickle, prone to fluctuations. The key to becoming a high-level player is minimizing those dips and finding alternative ways to contribute when your shot isn’t falling.

Still, Youngjae took solace in the fact that his last 3-point attempt before the game started went in smoothly. He listened intently to Rick Carlisle’s instructions and stepped onto the court.

“Yoon, unlike our offensive sets, you’ll be guarding Rose instead of Kidd on defense! Yoon! Rose is Chicago’s special weapon, known for his explosive athleticism. You can’t shut him down completely! However, Rose is less effective with his jump shot. Focus on preventing his drives to the basket, but if you can’t, funnel him towards Chandler. Play it smart and stay solid!”

“Understood!”

Derrick Rose. Despite being only a third-year player, Youngjae felt a surge of anticipation at the prospect of facing such a formidable opponent. He had faced excellent players before, but Derrick Rose was in a different class. In Youngjae’s previous life, Derrick Rose had won the 2010-11 NBA regular season MVP award, becoming the youngest MVP in NBA history.

John Wall, who was considered comparable to Derrick Rose, wasn’t quite on the same level, even after Youngjae’s dominant performance against him. Moreover, John Wall was still a rookie who hadn’t played a single season.

Rose’s game was built on explosive drives to the basket and accurate finishing at the rim. He also possessed incredible dribbling skills and pinpoint passing ability that left defenders bewildered. He was arguably the most electrifying point guard in the NBA. The most frightening aspect of his game was his clutch performance. In the fourth quarter and crucial moments, Rose was Chicago’s primary offensive weapon.

“Good! Everyone else, stay locked on your assignments! Kidd, if you see Yoon struggling to contain Rose, immediately double-team him! Keith Bogans, the shooting guard, hasn’t been shooting well lately, so prioritize containing Rose! Let’s go!”

Rick Carlisle punctuated his final words with a loud clap, energizing the players. They responded with shouts of affirmation and took to the court, assuming their positions and awaiting the jump ball.

[We’re broadcasting the game between the Chicago Bulls and the Dallas Mavericks on TNT. Brian Duntons is on the play-by-play, and Chris Webber is providing commentary. Webber! Great to have you.]

[Haha! It’s great to be here. I’m really excited to be commentating on such a fantastic game. Matchups between Eastern and Western Conference powerhouses always get me pumped up.]

Chris Webber seamlessly picked up where Brian Duntons left off, adding a playful energy and a unique perspective to the broadcast.

[The Chicago Bulls are showing great progress in Coach Tom Thibodeau’s first year at the helm. Coach Thibodeau was an assistant coach under Doc Rivers with the Boston Celtics before taking the head coaching job in Chicago this season. Despite his extensive coaching background, this is his first head coaching experience.]

[It’s going well, but there are some areas of concern. Honestly, Keith Bogans, the starting shooting guard, is more of a defensive specialist than an offensive threat, so I don’t think he’s a true starter. And while Kyle Korver, the backup shooting guard, is a lights-out shooter, his defensive limitations prevent him from being a starter. So, Chicago’s biggest weakness is at the shooting guard position. However, Derrick Rose’s sensational play has masked that weakness to some extent. But it’s not ideal. The fact that Chicago is only 6-4 with this roster is a bit disappointing.]

[I see. Still, it’s encouraging to see Chicago’s defensive schemes taking shape, right?]

[Absolutely. Thibodeau, who’s renowned for his defensive acumen, is clearly implementing his defensive philosophy in Chicago. Their opponent, Dallas, boasts a very balanced team on both ends of the floor. They’re currently third in the West with an 8-2 record, and Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki are the cornerstones of their success. Those two veterans are holding it down, and their exciting offensive style, fueled by their accurate jump shots, is captivating fans.]

Chris Webber paused momentarily, then exclaimed “Ah!” and clapped his hands, as if he had just realized something.

[And Dallas has unearthed a gem in rookie Youngjae Yoon. He’s Dallas’s first Korean shooting guard, and frankly, no one expected him to be this good. He’s an accurate and efficient shooter who perfectly complements Dallas’s team identity. His playmaking ability is also impressive, as he’s a willing passer. He displays intelligent play on both offense and defense, leveraging his solid physical attributes for a shooting guard. Dallas fans have affectionately nicknamed Youngjae Yoon “Y13.” He’s in the starting lineup today, and I believe he’ll be tasked with guarding Derrick Rose on defense.]

As Chris Webber finished his analysis, the jump ball commenced, and Tyson Chandler easily secured possession for Dallas.

[Dallas starts with the ball. Jason Kidd slowly brings the ball up the court.]

Kidd met the intense gaze of Derrick Rose, who crouched low in a defensive stance just past the half-court line. Kidd didn’t betray his intentions, keeping Rose guessing. Kidd was a master at reading the court and disguising his plans.

Kidd, noticing Youngjae shaking off Keith Bogans and cutting towards the basket on the wing, dribbled once and moved to the side, feigning a drive to draw Rose away. Kidd, moving towards the right wing, suddenly fired a full-force overhand pass to Youngjae. Rose instinctively reached out, but he was no match for the veteran savvy of Kidd, who had been a star in the NBA for over 15 years. Youngjae tracked the ball’s incredible speed and turned his back to Taj Gibson, who was attempting to block him.

Hook!!!

[Ah!! A no-look tap pass!!]

As soon as Youngjae secured Kidd’s pass with his right hand, he flicked it to Caron Butler, who was drifting from the opposite high post. It was an even more powerful and quicker pass than Kidd’s, and the ball landed perfectly in Butler’s hands. Butler, without hesitation, launched the ball towards the basket.

Shoo-

[Caron Butler! A textbook spot-up jumper!]

[Wow, wow! Did you see that?! An incredible display of no-look passing from Kidd and Yoon! Kidd’s pinpoint pass into the paint was instantly redirected by Youngjae Yoon to Caron Butler. All of this happened in under 3 seconds? And it went from right to center to left. With passes that dissect the defense, even Chicago’s stout defense couldn’t stop it!]

Kidd and Butler high-fived Youngjae, acknowledging his brilliant play, and tapped him on the head, encouraging him. Youngjae felt a surge of confidence from the play, knowing he could focus even more intently on the game.

“Hoo…”

Finally, it was Dallas’s turn to defend. Youngjae’s lips curled into a smile as Derrick Rose, radiating an aura of intensity, positioned himself in front of him. A superstar who he wouldn’t have dared to approach in his past life was now standing before him, strategizing how to attack.

What could be more exhilarating and fulfilling than this!

“Hehe, here I go.”

Rose also smiled slightly, as if enjoying the challenge, and initiated his drive, leading with his shoulder.

[The clash begins! Derrick Rose versus Youngjae Yoon!!!]

[Derrick Rose, driving with his left shoulder and skillfully dribbling the ball with his right hand!]

[Youngjae Yoon isn’t backing down! He’s miraculously containing Derrick Rose’s drive with incredible lateral quickness and footwork!]

For Youngjae, simply withstanding Derrick Rose’s physical presence, even for a moment, was a significant achievement. The bone-grinding effort he had put into improving his balance was paying off handsomely. Derrick Rose, expecting to easily overpower Youngjae, an Asian player, was visibly surprised by Youngjae’s unexpected resilience.

============================ Work Review ============================

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※The 180 club remains only as an unofficial record if it does not exceed the number written in the main text. The records left on the NBA official website are not, but there are 5 players who have joined the 180 club in the official record, and the number of times is 9. Steve Nash 4 times (05-06, 07-08, 08-09, 09-10), Larry Bird 2 times (86-87, 87-88), and the rest once each. Reggie Miller (93-04), Mark Price (89-90), Dirk Nowitzki (06-07). Larry Bird recorded 29 points, the most points scored during the 180 club season. For this reason, Nash is often called the best shooter of all time. He is the best offensive point guard, but he left even more amazing records in shooting. Dirk Nowitzki is the only big man to join the 180 club.

＠Derrick Rose is still the youngest MVP. He is 22 years old. He was nominated for the Chicago Bulls with the first pick in the 08 draft and won the MVP in his third year. It was so sensational and raised Chicago to the top of the league, but there was some controversy because LeBron didn’t win the MVP. Personally, I think Rose deserved it enough.

Thank you for your comments, Brilliant Legacy, Mr. Pretty Boy in Front of You, Shadow Boy!!

Rhonsheart/// Griffin is really great… a player who can fully hard carry the team alone.

Still Cloudy Sky/// It seems that only a few games are selected and shown like that ㄷㄷ. Besides, there is bound to be probability inflation at the beginning of the season. It’s like baseball’s batting average of 40% or 50% at the beginning of the season.

Thank you for your comments, Financia, misscherry!!

Nakwolhee, -DarkANGEL-/// I had a good time in the reserve forces~

Cheonsangbyeolli/// The opponent is too much of an opponent ㄷㄷ

Uiseol/// Hehe, it should be꺾 soon, but when will it beㅋㅋ

Thank you for pointing out, Casker7. I fixed it ㅎㅎ. I was mistaken without knowing it ㅠ.ㅠ

Lafir and Jint/// In the middle of this year, there will be a lull due to a series of injuries to important players. And at this time, in reality, it is 5 wins and 2 losses. In the novel, I added one more win.

Yabes/// Well, maybe the fans of the teams that were eliminated in the playoffs or the light fans would have found Clip-Spurs the most fun. There were quite a few reactions in the NBA community that it was a pity that this was not the final.

zigichacha/// I’m looking forward to seeing how the Houston players will approach the game tomorrow.

anwkdk/// Lin is a good athlete. Still, Youngjae is not that lacking compared to Lin. To be exact, it is difficult to see Lin as above average in the entire NBA.

Anti/// Minnesota’s Barea was truly Barea. He was almost Barea in Dallas except for the championship season. Of course, he was good enough to be used as the third guard, but because he went to Minnesota with a decent salary (I remember it was 4 years and 16 million dollars) because of the championship season, he had to play as a semi-main player, so he looked worse. Besides, Minnesota didn’t have a good pick-and-roll partner. Team defense was not organic either. Barea’s record this season also varies greatly depending on when he plays with a good screener. Originally, coach Carlisle is a person who is good at maximizing the strengths of players and minimizing their weaknesses.

Thank you for your comments, Omarion, Kundara, and Dangun Joseon!!