Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 685 - 236: When Tolerance Is No Longer Possible...

After trading Westbrook, a subtle balance had already formed within the Knicks.

With D'Antoni officially promoting Harden in the new season, under the former's guidance, he noticeably resembles a youthful Steve Nash.

This makes whoever partners with him on the court play very comfortably.

And Iguodala, who used to pick on James often during games, has become much more low-key this season due to the painful experience in last season's finals.

Moreover...

Since Iguodala is a player willing to sacrifice personal stats for the team, James, who knows there are no core interest conflicts with him, has been trying every day to win him over since last season's finals.

In a way...

The reason Iguodala can become the Knicks' locker room leader this season largely stems from James's strong support.

And Durant?

To be honest, at this stage, Durant is completely living in the fairy tale spun by James.

Although whether it is winning over Iguodala or sweet-talking Durant all day, James's aim is to become the undisputed number one on this Knicks team.

But as long as James continues to selflessly contribute to the team, this Knicks, composed of multiple superstars, indeed stands united.

The young Harden is in charge of providing ammunition to his older brothers on the court.

Iguodala, in his prime, while fully committed on both offense and defense, can also use his organizational skills to help distribute the ball fairly.

And Durant, who is captivated by James's sweet words, only needs to do his scoring job well.

Plus, there's the selfless and team-oriented James, almost as if possessed by another spirit.

Without a doubt, such a Knicks team can only be described as vibrant and hopeful.

However...

As time went into December of this year...

Howard, whom the Knicks acquired in the summer through Westbrook, has become the disruptor of team balance and the destroyer of team chemistry.

What has Howard wanted since he was kicked out by the Magic?

He wants to prove himself again.

Especially in the low post he longs for.

Howard wants to dominate all his contemporaneous centers from the low post, thereby proving that he is a super center with destructiveness comparable to O'Neal in his prime.

But on the Knicks...

Once Howard locks himself in the low post, whether it's Harden, James, or Durant, their game rhythm is inevitably affected by Howard.

Moreover, to preserve his energy for offense, Howard has even shown a lackluster effort on defense in recent games.

This is something that James, who is gradually approaching the core of Knicks' power, cannot possibly tolerate.

Because even he is playing serious defense now...

So why does Howard dare to blatantly slack off on the court?

James has always had his own standards when it comes to being lenient with oneself and strict with others.

So, after noticing Howard consistently failing to recognize his "junior" status at the Knicks, James took decisive action.

And in the Knicks locker room...

When Iguodala, Durant, and James, these three big guys wielding baseball bats suddenly confronted him, the utterly flustered Howard...

Where was his usual unruly self?

In the face of James's subtle hints, the Knicks' players, who were already looking for a vent to release their emotions for this clueless dog, joined forces to crush Howard's already fragile mental defenses with just one confrontation.

"What do you want me to do?"

Howard asked with a wronged expression.

Upon hearing this, the "Knicks' Three with the Bat" laid out the following demands on this stupid dog.

First, Howard must show his intent to play seriously with his attitude on defense.

Second, he has to obediently go set screens for his teammates whenever called upon during the game.

Lastly, unless it's a necessary possession, Howard cannot just stand in the low post waiting to receive the ball.

"What you want is clearly just an obedient Rottweiler!"

Howard expressed dissatisfaction with the Knicks' Three with the Bat's demands: "I am a first-team center, not a Kwame Brown-type of foolish laborer!"

Kwame Brown?

To be honest, in the eyes of the Knicks' Three with the Bat, in some aspects, Howard is not even as good as Brown for the current Knicks.

Even though Brown is bad.

But Brown doesn't demand from Qin Yue that he gets to post up every possession.

Seeing this, Iguodala, after swinging his bat to smash a locker in the locker room, said: "Dwight, you certainly can choose not to accept the demands we made."

"But from now on, you'll only be playing as a substitute."

On the side, Durant added: "And only a substitute during garbage time."

"You... you can't do this to me!" Howard protested furiously, "I... I'm a first-team center, how can you... how can you treat me like this?" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

A first-team center?

At this moment, looking at this stupid dog still living in a fantasy, James, having held back for a year and a half, said: "Dwight, either accept our demands, or you better prepare to play as a substitute."