Playing in Oklahoma City, time flew by. There was nothing to do every day except train, and Coach Brooks and coaching staff still hadn't given up on their bankrupt version of the Triangle Offense.
Taking advantage of the Thunder's five consecutive home games in Oklahoma City, coaching staff increased tactical training sessions, aiming to fully establish the framework after the five home games.
On December 1st, Kayce hosted Jrue Holiday, who was in Oklahoma City for an away game, at his home.
After several months, his good brother was doing very well, having completely established himself with the 76ers and secured a starting position.
"Hey, Bro, congratulations! The starting point guard for the 76ers, you've achieved your college goal!"
Kayce poured Holiday a glass of juice while greeting his good brother.
"I'm far behind you. God, in November you got two triple-doubles, and you also won the Rookie of the Month award. And look at your big house, I feel like I need to work even harder."
Holiday was very envious of Kayce's achievements: personal stats, team record, and a good atmosphere with teammates. This was simply a dream start for a rookie.
"None of that matters. Even though the Thunder are currently first in the league, many people don't even watch our games. Everyone still focuses on Kobe, on the Big Three, on LeBron James."
Kayce spoke from his heart; this was the sorrow of a small market. Even good performance didn't attract much attention.
After all, the NBA isn't America's most popular sport. Most fans who follow the NBA usually support their local team first, and then some of their favorite stars.
The Thunder had a bunch of rookies, with Durant being the most famous, but in his first two seasons, he clanked a lot of shots and went fishing early, so his popularity was limited and couldn't compare to The Chosen One, LeBron James.
"Alright, you're right. The situation in Philadelphia is similar. Since Iverson left the team, attention has been declining."
"But the local fans are very enthusiastic. Even if the results aren't great, they still come to every game to support the team."
Holiday also agreed with Kayce's point: to gain attention, both performance and city are indispensable.
"Enough about that. How are you and Lauren? I heard Britney tell me that Lauren might join the national team. That's an amazing achievement!"
Kayce knew that America's women's soccer team was doing well, and it was indeed impressive for Lauren to be selected for the national team.
"Because of this, we're always apart. She even said she'd win a championship before me. Just thinking about these things gives me a headache!"
Holiday was worried about his future family status. If his wife was a champion and he was just an ordinary player, he would definitely be suppressed.
"Haha, happy troubles. Let's eat and chat. I've already used up this month's cheat meal in advance. Try my cooking; it definitely tastes as good as those big restaurants!"
Sharing delicious food with good brothers at home, this was the life Kayce had always yearned for.
The Philadelphia 76ers achieved a 41-win record last season, ranking sixth in the Eastern Conference. Although they lost 4-2 to the Magic in the first round of the Playoffs, Philadelphia fans were still quite satisfied.
But with a new Head Coach this season, and some roster strengthening through trades, their performance began to plummet towards the top draft pick.
Currently at 5 wins and 13 losses, they are third from the bottom in the Eastern Conference. Although Louis Williams has been plagued by injuries since the start of the season, such a record still greatly disappoints Philadelphia fans.
After a string of home losses, some fans even shouted:
"Geneva, refund! Are you worthy of us!"
Andre Iguodala, as the team leader, felt immense pressure!
Scoring 20 points in a game wasn't difficult for him, but as the team's leader, consistently dropping 30+ points to lead the team to victory was something he truly couldn't do.
Little AI is not the real Iverson after all. Philadelphia fans wanting him to become the second Allen Iverson is basically a pipe dream.
On the evening of December 2nd, the Ford Center added seats tonight, but many Oklahoma City fans still complained about not being able to buy tickets. Kayce was to receive the Rookie of the Month award from the league tonight.
In November, the Thunder played a total of 15 games. During this period, Kayce averaged 19.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 8.5 assists, helping the Thunder achieve an astonishing record of 13 wins and 2 losses.
Team performance and individual statistics crushed all other rookies during the same period, making the Rookie of the Month award almost a foregone conclusion.
It was Friday in China across the ocean today, so Sina Sports once again secured the broadcasting rights for this game. Most fans were looking forward to the pre-game award ceremony.
"Sina is lagging again, I've refreshed so many times, it lags every 2 minutes!"
"It's all because CCTV broadcasts too few games. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays always perfectly miss the Thunder, making me watch text live broadcasts on Hupu every day!"
"It's good enough to see anything. Fortunately, I often see Kayce in the Top 10 Plays. Being a Thunder fan is too hard."
"The Thunder have fans? They got blown out by the Lakers last game. Isn't it better to watch the Lakers' game?"
"Heh heh, Kayce is just a stats padder. Kobe crushes him!"
"If you're so capable, you pad stats too! No one's stopping you. Kobe as a rookie wanted to pad more points, but he didn't have the ability, so he could only cling to the coattails of others in the end!"
"James Fans, don't stir up trouble here. Go let LeBron win a championship before you speak. In a few years, when his body gives out, he won't have a chance."
"Stop arguing, it's lagging so much. Why is watching a game so difficult?"
Host Ke Xiaofan saw Komi fighting on all sides again and was a bit speechless. He quickly refocused; the live award ceremony was about to begin.
When Kayce, dressed in a blue Thunder practice uniform, stood tall and received the trophy from the league official, the Ford Center erupted in a huge cheer.
Receiving the award at home also included some thank-you remarks. Joel Jean, the live DJ and host, first signaled the audience to get more enthusiastic, then handed the microphone to Kayce.
"Thank you to all the Oklahoma City fans. It is your silent support that has allowed the team to achieve its current success."
"This Rookie of the Month award belongs to all Oklahoma City fans, to coaching staff and my teammates. We are family, and believe me, this is just the first trophy!"
"Finally, I want to say that we will definitely make the Playoffs this season. Thank you all for your support!"
The Ford Center once again boiled over. A team that won 23 games last season has risen this season!
The new season started wonderfully, soaring to first in the league, and the team's draft was a huge success. This made Oklahoma City fans ecstatic, cheering wildly.
On the Philadelphia 76ers' side, Holiday saw Kayce's explosive popularity and was filled with envy:
"Good brother, can I touch your trophy?"
In the Sina Sports studio, after completing the translation, host Ke Xiaofan was also discussing Kayce with Ma Jian.
"Coach Ma, Yi Jianlian also won a Rookie of the Month award in 2007. Regarding Kayce's performance, do you think he can continue to win awards?"
"If the Thunder maintain this record, I believe Kayce will win the Rookie of the Month award again. Everyone can look at other players' stats; Kayce has already crushed all other rookies from the same period."
"Although the Western Conference competition is fierce, I am optimistic that the Thunder can make the Playoffs this season. If they can add a star big man in the future, the Thunder are very likely to win the NBA Finals!"
Ma Jian stopped pretending; he laid his cards on the table. He was a die-hard Thunder fan.
As soon as he said this, the fans on the forum exploded. Were they already talking about the NBA Finals?
"If you want to win the NBA Finals, win against the Lakers first! With Kobe, the Thunder's ceiling is the Western Conference Finals."
"Ma Jian just said that, and some Kobe fans got so anxious, haha. I'm optimistic about the Thunder; they'll definitely win a championship in the future."
"As long as Kayce, Westbrook, and Durant are there, the Thunder's performance won't be bad. Thunder for the NBA Finals!"
"Stop arguing, I'm lagging so much…"
Before the game, Coach Brooks gave his final instructions to his players:
"Rebounds, guys. Whether it's defensive or offensive rebounds, fight hard for them. Use our athleticism, attack their paint more. Kayce, control the offensive rhythm."
Kayce immediately nodded, indicating he understood.
The Philadelphia 76ers' starting lineup was interesting: one big, four small, but a bit too small.
The starting backcourt was Jrue Holiday and Willie Green, the forwards were Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young, and the center was Samuel Dalembert.
Among the four perimeter players, the tallest, Thaddeus Young, was 203cm. A large part of the 76ers' previous losses was due to being outrebounded.
Relying solely on Dalembert in the paint sometimes led to rebounding problems, especially on long rebounds, which a center couldn't completely control.
Jeff Green was full of confidence this game. He finally didn't have to guard big men, and his mood was much more relaxed.
The game was about to begin. Kayce leaned in and whispered to Durant:
"Kevin, against shorter forwards, reduce dribbling. Attack the rim directly after catching the ball. Whether it's a jump shot or a drive, they can't stop you!"
Durant nodded, and the two fist-bumped in acknowledgment.
To quickly upgrade his [Organization Core] badge, Kayce needed to utilize Durant's finishing ability. Russell's shooting was too inconsistent; only Durant was perfectly suited to be this tool player.
"The game begins! Dalembert tips the ball to the 76ers, and Holiday dribbles across half-court."
In the Sina Sports studio, host Ke Xiaofan also began his commentary on the game.
After several perimeter passes, the 76ers immediately fed the ball to Dalembert in the low post. Facing Kostić's defense, the latter also tried a back-to-the-basket isolation, but his post-moves were a bit unrefined. His turnaround hook shot hit the rim and bounced out.
Kostić grabbed the rebound and immediately passed it to Russell, initiating a fast break. The 76ers retreated in time, and seeing no opportunity, the ball was given back to Kayce to reorganize the offense.
Willie Green, who was guarding Kayce, was only 193cm tall. Facing such a smaller player, Kayce used a front cross-over, then directly backed him down to the low post.
Noticing that Durant, using Jeff Green's screen, had shaken off his defender, Iguodala, with an off-ball cut, Kayce immediately passed the ball to Durant.
The latter received the ball and instantly broke through, dribbling with his left hand for two steps before disregarding Thaddeus Young, who had switched to defend him, and pulling up for a jump shot.
"Swish!" The mid-range shot went in steadily.
"Great shot! Durant completely utilized his height and arm length advantage on this play, ignoring the defense, coming off the screen to catch and shoot, and scoring 2 points."
Ke Xiaofan praised Durant's physical talent.
The 76ers attacked again, and this time Iguodala took it himself, breaking free from Durant's defense after a pick-and-roll, accelerating with the ball in his right hand, and pulling up for a right-hand fadeaway jump shot.
"Swish!" 2 points scored.
Iguodala's individual ability was still outstanding; he specifically targeted Kostić's slow footwork, and the 76ers had done a lot of homework before the game.
However, in the subsequent game, Iguodala found that his perimeter teammates were being restricted. Kayce and Russell were suffocating the backcourt, preventing Willie Green and Holiday from getting good opportunities.
Thaddeus Young and Jeff Green were locked in a struggle, their playstyles and physiques very similar, making for a perfect matchup on both offense and defense.
It was time for the team's leader to score, but Iguodala, facing Durant's defense, felt it was a bit difficult.
The Thunder, on the other hand, had multiple players scoring, with Kayce, Durant, and Russell frequently driving to the basket, executing simple drive-and-kick plays, constantly feeding Kostić for easy buckets.
Jeff Green also got a few open looks and calmly converted all of them.
By the end of the first quarter, the Thunder led the opponent 28-22, a 6-point advantage. The team's highest scorer in the first quarter was Kostić, who had 10 points, followed by Jeff Green with 8 points.
The 76ers' first-quarter scoring was concentrated on Iguodala, who shot 5-for-8, including 2-for-3 from three-point range, for 12 points.
However, it's worth noting that Iguodala averaged 18.8 points per game last season; 12 points in the first quarter, and then… what about the next three quarters?
Indeed, as the game progressed, the Thunder played with increasing excitement, driving to the basket and shooting from outside, making the home fans roar with delight.
Late in the second quarter, Kayce, facing Willie Green's defense, didn't call for a screen, changed direction with the ball in his right hand, then followed with a crossover dribble with his left, the continuous changes allowing Kayce to gain half a step on his defender.
He accelerated with the ball in his right hand, drove into the paint, and, despite Dalembert's block attempt, threw down a one-handed dunk!
"Ah!!"
After landing, Kayce pounded his chest and roared. Posterizing a center was what a qualified forward should do, and the Posterizer badge was very effective.
"Oh!! Wow!!"
The Ford Center crowd erupted in a huge roar again; dunks always ignite people's passion.
By the end of the second quarter, the Thunder led the opponent 58-44, a 14-point advantage, and Iguodala had gone a bit cold.
During halftime, Coach Brooks even praised Durant's defense, saying he had done a very good job of limiting Iguodala in the second quarter.
"Wow, Kevin, are you going to become an elite defender? I haven't seen you work this hard on defense in the past two years."
Jeff Green was in a great mood this game and teased Durant.
"Of course, top players are two-way players. Maybe I can make an All-Defensive Team this season!"
Durant said without modesty, a smug look on his face.
"Ugh!!" Everyone immediately booed him.
Kayce knew this was all due to him. When a team has a rookie who can score, defend, and assist, the veteran players feel immense pressure; everyone wants to save face.
Especially a talented player like Durant, who is incredibly competitive. If he loses a one-on-one in practice, he has to get his revenge. Seeing Kayce defend with effort, he naturally had to follow suit.
Anyway, the team was thoroughly influenced by Kayce; Russell had already returned to his college-level defensive intensity.
When the third quarter began, the Thunder's Big Three completely unleashed their power, immediately going on a 14-6 run, extending the lead to 22 points, and essentially putting the game out of reach.
This was also the game plan formulated by coaching staff before the game: first let Kostić and Jeff Green get into a rhythm, then close out the game with a wave in the third quarter. Coach Brooks was very satisfied with this game.
As both teams tacitly put in their bench players, time flew by, and ultimately, the Thunder defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 109-99 at home, securing a winning start to their December schedule.
Iguodala finished the game with 20 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 turnovers. He failed to step up when the team needed him most, and his position as the leader was becoming precarious.
Kayce finished the game with a double-double of 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists, playing steadily and energizing the entire team.
After the game, Kayce first said goodbye to his good brother Holiday, and then Iguodala approached Kayce. The two had a brief conversation:
"Kayce, maintain your form. Rookies might experience some physical issues as the season progresses. You must pay attention to this; health is most important, don't get injured."
Iguodala shared his playing experience with Kayce.
"Thank you for the reminder, Bro. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Media reporters and commentators don't understand basketball; they're just trying to attract attention and gain viewership. You've always been a role model for me!"
Kayce knew that after this game, Iguodala would inevitably be criticized by many media reporters and commentators, so he offered some simple comfort.
"Haha, I've been in the league for many years. Thank you for your concern, don't worry, I'm fine!"
Iguodala didn't expect Kayce to care about him, and his favorability instantly increased. The two chatted briefly before exchanging a hug and departing.
In the locker room after the game, Durant casually asked again:
"Kayce, what did you talk about with Iguodala? You two seemed to get along well. You're the kind of guy who can get along with almost everyone; everyone likes you!"
"Haha, just some experience sharing. He's a good person, and his defensive moves are clean. It's just that the media hasn't been very friendly to him recently."
Kayce said casually while icing his body.
When everyone in the locker room heard this, they started discussing it, perhaps Iguodala was about to leave Philadelphia.
Durant, however, felt a sense of urgency. He originally thought Kayce was there to assist him, but as the games went on, things didn't seem right; his own performance was falling short.
He genuinely wasn't good at organizing the offense. Since childhood, he had always been a scorer. Therefore, in the recent few games, he started playing more off-ball, directly finishing possessions after receiving the ball.
But just scoring wasn't enough. As a qualified leader, he had to get along with everyone, make teammates like him, and earn the respect of opponents.
"Daily communication, I'm not good at, but no one is better than me at Twitter comments! It's time to add some post-game comments! I want to help league players actively speak out!"
The more Durant thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, and he felt his position as leader had become much more secure.
Afterward, Coach Brooks gave some simple instructions and left. The day after tomorrow, they would face the Boston Celtics Big Three at home. coaching staff had been preparing tactical arrangements for this game for the past two days, and they still had to work overtime tonight.
The advantage of playing at home was being able to go home earlier. By the time Kayce drove home, he still had time for a late-night snack.
After replying to the congratulatory texts from his superficial brothers, Kayce decided to go to bed early. He wanted to see if the Organization Core badge experience would increase a little with Durant's efficient scoring.
At midnight, Kayce arrived in the Dream Space and headed straight to the Achievement Room. After checking his badge experience, he was a little disappointed, as it had only increased by 4 points.
"It seems this is also related to player playing time. The experience from checking out after three quarters is too little, but the Thunder almost always lost games that went into the fourth quarter."
With a conflicted mood, Kayce began his routine daily basic training.
The Boston Celtics achieved a record of 62 wins last season, ranking second in the Eastern Conference, but due to Kevin Garnett's injury, they lost to the Magic in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, getting shot out in Game 7.
With a complete roster this season, under the leadership of Doc Rivers, they currently have a record of 15 wins and 4 losses, ranking second in the Eastern Conference. Therefore, media reporters and basketball commentators alike have expressed:
"Boston Celtics for the championship!"
This season, the team's starting point guard, Rajon Rondo, has also been playing better and better, leading everyone to exclaim that the Boston Celtics are a four-superstar team!
Anyway, in the Eastern Conference, everyone unanimously expected the Boston Celtics to once again reach the NBA Finals, perhaps this year would be another Lakers-Celtics rivalry.
However, no matter how strong the Boston Celtics were, they were still in the Eastern Conference. coaching staff hadn't thought that far ahead; they only wanted to win this game at home.
However, after some research, the conclusion was: "Most likely, we can't win."
Kevin Garnett was an unsolvable problem. Jeff Green would be completely suppressed by him in the low post, and the same applied to offense. Garnett's excellent help defense was also an insurmountable barrier for the Thunder.
"Brooks, conventional tactics won't be very effective. Once it becomes a half-court offense, the Boston Celtics have too much of an advantage. We just lack an interior player like Garnett."
"We can play a bit unconventionally. We also have talented players. Let's make the game simpler! That might be how we can win."
Coach Brooks' heart stirred when he heard his assistant coaches, and he had an idea.
In the tactical training session the next afternoon, Coach Brooks immediately said:
"Guys, tomorrow night's game, we need to play simpler. We need to showcase our talent on offense!"
"Kevin, Kayce, after discussion, coaching staff has a task for you two. In tomorrow night's game, you will have unlimited shooting freedom. Don't let down everyone's trust in you!"
Kayce was stunned when he heard this, and then he couldn't help but inwardly complain:
"Unlimited shooting freedom, this sounds like a chaotic style of play…"