Y13 [EN]: Chapter 65

Y13-65 (65/296)

00065 2010-11 Regular Season =========================================================================

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan seethed, watching his team’s poor performance. After a stern scolding when the score difference ballooned to 15 points, he crossed his arms, his face a mask of disapproval.

Carlisle, pleased with Novak’s game-changing contribution, subbed him out for Nowitzki. Novak, satisfied with his impactful minutes, joined his teammates on the bench to watch the rest of the game. Caron Butler was also replaced by Shawn Marion, known for his exceptional defense and hustle. Realizing he needed to shake things up, Jerry Sloan began to counter. He promptly pulled Gordon Hayward, his 9th overall draft pick, and reinserted Deron Williams, hoping to regain control. His plan was to leverage C.J. Miles’ hot hand and return the starting lineup to the 3, 4, and 5 positions.

“Youngjae.”

During the substitutions, Kidd called Youngjae over for a quick word.

“Utah’s interior defense is soft. Paul Millsap and Deron Williams are solid defenders, but Al Jefferson, the center, has always been a liability on that end. Plus, his offense isn’t clicking tonight, making him antsy on defense. You see it?”

“I see it.”

Kidd nodded, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

“Good. For a few possessions, instead of spacing the floor from the perimeter, let’s relentlessly attack the basket. Marion’s good at cutting [a quick move towards the basket]. I think it’ll be more effective than they expect. If Nowitzki sets a pick, Jefferson will be the only one left in the paint. That’s enough space. If Chandler screens, Jefferson won’t even try to follow you out. Just take the shot.”

Kidd’s experience was undeniable. He understood that identifying and exploiting an opponent’s weaknesses was fundamental to victory. That’s why Carlisle, who had orchestrated offenses in Detroit and Indiana, entrusted Kidd with significant offensive responsibilities. Youngjae was learning a great deal from him.

“Since we’ve been having so much success shooting from outside, they’ll be less focused on protecting the paint. It’s worth a shot.”

“Good.”

Kidd gave Youngjae an encouraging tap on the head. On the very next offensive possession, Kidd dribbled past half-court and immediately passed the ball to Youngjae.

“Hoo…”

Deron Williams stood in his path. Jerry Sloan had assigned Williams to shadow Youngjae, the only starter with a knack for driving to the basket. Despite his turnover issues and lack of steals, Deron Williams’ reputation and skill were still considerable. Although Youngjae was taller, he lacked the strength and post moves to back Williams down, making the matchup a logical choice for Utah.

[Here comes Yoon Youngjae driving to the basket!]

[Dallas has been living off their outside shooting tonight! Barea, who can penetrate, hasn’t seen much playing time, and Yoon Youngjae has been focused on creating space, drawing double teams, and kicking the ball out for open looks!]

Deron Williams suspected Youngjae’s drive was a fake, assuming he wouldn’t relish the physical contact.

‘He’s a great shooter. If it’s not easy, he’ll just pull up and shoot.’

Having studied Youngjae’s game film and witnessed his shooting prowess that night, Williams anticipated a pass to the perimeter after a screen, expecting Youngjae to settle for a jump shot.

Thud-

Youngjae confidently drove towards the basket, unfazed by Williams. He unleashed Williams’ own signature crossover dribble [a quick change of direction dribble]. Williams’ face twisted in a grimace as his signature move was used against him, but he quickly recovered, shifting his weight to stay in front of Youngjae.

[An amazing crossover! But Deron Williams isn’t an easy mark, is he?]

[He’s staying on the balls of his feet to react quickly! Deron Williams is tough! Despite the incredible crossover, he’s still blocking Yoon Youngjae’s path!]

[Here comes Yoon Youngjae! Blocked by Deron Williams, he pauses to gather himself and calls for Tyson Chandler!]

Chandler set a screen perfectly, and Deron positioned himself to force Youngjae towards Jefferson. Youngjae fearlessly attacked the basket, heading straight for Jefferson.

[Al Jefferson’s defense isn’t very good!]

[Jefferson can’t contain Yoon Youngjae!]

Jefferson’s defense was already suspect, and when he failed to impede Youngjae, Paul Millsap, who had been guarding Nowitzki, rushed to help. Millsap was undersized for a power forward, but strong and a capable defender, so Youngjae decided against forcing the issue.

[One, two! Yoon Youngjae’s Euro step [a move where a player takes a step in one direction, then quickly steps in the other direction] swaying left and right!]

[Is he going to leap?! Paul Millsap jumps with him!]

Youngjae used a Euro step to misdirect Millsap, then leaped towards the basket. Millsap jumped to contest the shot, but the ball was already gone.

[An amazing back pass! Perfectly delivered to Marion, who’s cutting to the basket!]

[Shawn Marion throws down a powerful two-handed dunk!]

Kirilenko had momentarily lost track of Marion, allowing the play to develop. He frowned and shook his head.

“Nice, let’s keep it going!”

Marion encouraged his teammates as he backpedaled, giving Youngjae a light high-five.

[Jerry Sloan: “I can’t tolerate games like this.”]

Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan didn’t mince words after losing to the Dallas Mavericks. “Everything about the game was terrible,” he stated.

The Utah Jazz, fresh off another defeat against Dallas, had previously suffered a lopsided 98-84 loss at home a week prior, a 14-point margin. In that game, Dallas coach Rick Carlisle had emptied his bench in the third quarter with a 20-point lead, prioritizing his starters’ rest. Utah attempted a comeback, but it was too late. While the Jazz played better in Dallas, they still lost by eight points, 106-98.

Sloan described the game as “a nightmare.” The Jazz, who had been riding a four-game winning streak, suffered two losses against Dallas, stalling their ascent in the Western Conference standings. Sloan’s post-game comments contrasted sharply with Deron Williams’, who said at the American Airlines Center, “We wanted to avenge our loss at home, but we fell a little short. We’ll play better in the future.” Sloan retorted, “Aren’t we supposed to be a half-court, positional offense team? But in the two games against Dallas, we resorted to clumsy pick-and-rolls and inaccurate outside shots, far from a true half-court game.”

This interview fueled speculation about a rift between Williams and Sloan. An anonymous source within the Jazz organization claimed that the two hadn’t been on good terms all season, with heated arguments occurring frequently during halftime.

(Omitted)

Dallas continued its winning ways after the Utah game, climbing to the top of the Western Conference with a 24-4 record. Led by Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki, bolstered by Tyson Chandler’s interior defense and Shawn Marion’s resurgence, Dallas had improved significantly. Marion’s strong play had supplanted Caron Butler, who was struggling with his shot. The unexpected contribution of rookie Yoon Youngjae, the 25th overall pick, had become a cornerstone of Dallas’s success, significantly boosting both their offensive and defensive capabilities.

Youngjae was having a fantastic rookie season, but Blake Griffin, a second-year rookie (he missed his entire first year due to injury, making 2010 his official rookie season), was averaging over 35 minutes per game and putting up monster numbers: 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 2.7 turnovers. He was the only player in the league averaging a double-double, making Youngjae’s chances at Rookie of the Year slim. Nevertheless, Dallas fans believed that Yoon Youngjae was a special talent, and they began to see him as the best challenger to Griffin’s dominance if he received more playing time.

However, with the good came the bad. Rodrigue Beaubois, returning from injury, had lost his confidence. Before Beaubois joined the French national team, Youngjae had warned him to be careful, but he couldn’t escape the injury bug. Beaubois’s performance in Dallas was underwhelming, and interest in him waned. While his physical recovery seemed complete, questions arose about whether he was suffering from mental trauma or struggling to balance on his foot with the implanted steel rod.

Seeing Beaubois’s struggles, Youngjae made an effort to support him, offering encouragement and practicing with him to help him regain his confidence.

Additionally, Nowitzki’s knee pain was a major concern for Dallas. Given the immense pressure on his knees due to his height and weight, management was crucial. However, Dallas had few easy wins and many close games, making it difficult to manage Nowitzki’s minutes. Nowitzki himself was reluctant to sit out. The strain was manifesting as knee pain. Dallas was on a roll, but Nowitzki’s absence would severely impact their offense.

Fortunately, a week-long break around Christmas was approaching. Coach Carlisle advised the players to rest, and Nowitzki opted for outpatient treatment at home and at the hospital.

Youngjae also tried to make plans for a fulfilling Christmas, but with limited success. His social circle consisted mainly of Dallas players and Azteca colleagues. He arranged to meet Meli and David, and his cousin on Christmas Day, but he was disappointed that he would spend the remaining days alone at home.

“Maybe I should pick up a hobby during this time?”

Youngjae had become close to Dallas captain Dirk Nowitzki, and they often shared stories. Nowitzki mentioned that his hobbies included playing the saxophone and reading during the off-season, leaving Youngjae feeling embarrassed about his own lack of hobbies.

Youngjae decided to find something to do for the three days leading up to Christmas. He hopped into his SUV and drove into the city. In casual clothes, he was often unrecognized, but occasionally, a Dallas fan would spot him, leading to a small gathering of admirers. His popularity among Koreans was even greater, and he enjoyed the attention. After taking pictures and signing autographs, Youngjae entered a department store and began to browse.

============================ Author’s Note ============================

＠In reality, Dallas was 23-5 in 28 games at the time. After 7 wins and 4 losses, they went on a 12-game winning streak. Youngjae’s joining only reduced 1 loss and added 1 win.

＠Deron Williams and Jerry Sloan also had a confrontational relationship. In the end, Utah sided with Deron over Sloan, a legendary coach nearing retirement, and fired Sloan… but Deron also left for Brooklyn. Fortunately, since then, the draft has been consistently above average, and they’ve built a team that can contend for the playoffs next year.

＠Deron Williams’ defense was inconsistent. Despite his athleticism, he relied on anticipating plays, leading to fluctuating defensive performance. Youngjae, being bigger and more elusive, was adept at exploiting this. Similarly, Youngjae’s jump shot wasn’t always reliable, leading to inconsistent offensive output.

※Crossover: A dribbling technique involving a feint in one direction followed by a sudden change of direction to bypass the defender.

※Cut-in: A quick move towards the basket, evading the opponent’s defense, similar to a penetration play in soccer.

◆I will skip today’s Rico comment. I don’t have enough time to prepare for the exam ㅠ.ㅠ Please understand today. The main story will continue tomorrow.