The No.1 Anti-Fans in Basketball-Chapter 612 - 299: The Birth of Joker

Time flew by, and it was already December.

The Cavaliers had finished their first month of the season.

They ended November with a record of 10 wins and 5 losses, ranking third in The East, behind the Heat and the Raptors.

This record was slightly worse than last season’s, but the Cavaliers had gained more than expected.

Kyrie Irving had the best month of his career, averaging 25.8 points, 7.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.

More comforting than the statistics was Irving’s improved ability to handle double teams.

As it turns out, as long as you give someone enough ball-handling responsibility—even if he’s just a role player, give him twenty years of it and some media hype, he too can become an All-Star.

But Irving is capable and already knows what he needs to improve. Give him enough room to make mistakes, and he can give you a brilliant future.

Hansen’s decision to delegate authority brought gains not only for Irving.

Nikola Jokic had a decent debut, struggled in a few games afterwards, but then demonstrated outstanding adaptability.

In mid-November, he had a career-high 4 assists against the Bulls. On Thanksgiving, he scored in double figures for the first time against the Bucks. At the end of November, in the last game against the Magic, he got his first double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, showing more and more promise.

The Cavaliers’ first game in December was against the San Antonio Spurs.

At the beginning of the season, the power rankings didn’t place the Spurs in the top five, but once the season started, the Spurs had replaced the Rockets as one of the powerhouses in The West.

They had a November record of 11 wins and 4 losses, trailing behind only the Warriors and the Lakers.

Aside from the addition of Alderich, what was more important was the growth of Leonard.

In November, Leonard averaged 22.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2 steals per game.

Don’t think that’s low in scoring. Remember, Alderich is averaging just 18.5 points this season.

To be able to play with an average of 20+ points in the Spurs’ ensemble basketball is like what Hansen did in his first season with the Grizzlies, proving his skill is much stronger than what the stats show.

The opening game for the Cavaliers was tough, and the first game of December was no easier.

The good news was that the game would be at home court, where the Cavaliers could wait at their leisure.

On the day of the game, before practice began, Malone entered the locker room.

Under the curious gaze of the players, he walked straight up to Jokic: "You will start in tomorrow’s game."

Jokic initially thought he had made a mistake but instead received good news.

After Malone left, the Cavaliers players came up one after another to congratulate him.

As the "team’s pet," the team members were only too happy for him to get a starting nod.

Even Garnett came over to congratulate him.

"Kevin, does me starting mean you’ll be coming off the bench?" Jokic only now realized the implication.

"If you’re starting, I’ll be happy because that would be more beneficial for the team," Garnett clearly had already discussed this privately with Malone.

Or rather, if Hawes were not underperforming, Garnett would not have been the starting center for the Cavaliers. Garnett himself wanted to shine one last time—if he was burnt out from starting, he’d have to retire early.

During the day’s training, Malone placed Jokic in the starting group.

For Jokic, this was not all that unfamiliar, as he had been playing as a substitute but with steadily increasing minutes on the floor, alongside the starters already.

However, during practice, Jokic appeared visibly tense.

It was unexpected for Malone, but he didn’t pay it much mind since it’s natural for anyone to be nervous the first time.

After the practice ended, Hansen was studying his phone to decide on Christmas gifts.

No matter how rich, choosing holiday gifts for a girlfriend is always a headache.

At that moment, Jokic sat down beside him.

Hansen turned to find the young man with his eyebrows slanted upward, looking like the character for "awkward."

Jokic must have admired Yao Ming, not O’Neal!

He put away his phone for the moment.

It occurred to him that Jokic seemed a bit off during today’s practice. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

"Just starting a game; no need to be so nervous," Hansen said outright.

He himself had been excited about starting back in his day; after all, it’s like starting a game of 2K—it doesn’t really kick off until you’re in the main lineup.

"It’s not because I’m starting that I’m nervous but because... I have to match up against TD!" Jokic replied, ever the candid kid.

With Jokic’s remark, Hansen remembered that indeed, that was the case.

After Alderich moved to the Spurs, Duncan had become the starting center.

Facing "the guy who peaked from the start and stayed there for twenty years" in one’s debut start would understandably add some pressure.

"When I was with the Cavaliers, it took me six games to make it into the starting lineup," Hansen reminisced.

"That’s impressive, boss," exclaimed Jokic without a doubt.

After Conningham looked down on him in the last power ranking prediction, he had brushed up on some knowledge, including the history of the Cavaliers.

Back then, the Cavaliers were championship contenders, and Hansen starting within six games spoke to his immense strength.

"That’s not the point," Hansen realized Jokic was getting sidetracked.

"In my first game as a starter, I had to go up against KD."

Though his first start was due to James not wanting to guard Durant and the circumstances differed from Jokic’s, there was a meaningful comparison to be drawn.

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