score maniac

Chapter 46: Deadly Block!

Tip-off! “Whoosh—!” The basketball soared into the air as the jump ball participants from both teams bent their knees and leaped simultaneously. Although Cousins’ vertical leap wasn’t particularly impressive, his height and long arms allowed him to swat the ball into the Kings’ half. “Stay calm! Run the offense!” Jeter took the ball, dribbled steadily up the court, and scanned the court with his eyes, looking every bit the commander of a half-court offense. After several consecutive games, Westphal became even more convinced that Jeter should start. Although Evans was unstoppable in the Summer League, he simply refused to play as part of a team. When driving to the basket, he wouldn’t pass unless he was backed into a corner—a style of play that undoubtedly did immense harm to the team’s offensive and defensive flow. As for Evans’s mental issues, the veteran coach brushed them aside with a simple, “You’re a star; you don’t need to play in the Summer League.” Of course, Evans was undoubtedly still seething inside, but since fighting for a starting spot in the Summer League at this point would have been a major loss of face, he held his temper. “Gu! Over here!” Dribbling past half-court, Jeter’s eyes were as sharp as knives as he watched Gu Yu cut in from the right flank, executing his signature move. With Whiteside setting a screen, Gu Yu vanished from view as he weaved past Cousins along the baseline. “It’s the ‘Vanishing Shooter’!” On the sidelines, a basketball expert immediately recognized the play, and his exclamation sparked a wave of whispered speculation among the crowd. Ever since the Kings’ rookie F4 deployed this play in Game 2 against the Bucks, fans have been “studying” it. This play has been around for a long time, but it wasn’t until the last two seasons that it really took off in the NBA. Led by Chen Mu, the Philadelphia 76ers have repeatedly achieved great success with this play, prompting many teams to try to emulate it. However, executing this play well is no easy feat. First, the team must have a shooter with exceptional accuracy who is skilled at cutting to open shots, adept at using screens, and not too tall. Second, the team must have at least two expert screen-setters, one of whom is large enough to use their body as a barrier, obstructing the defender’s vision and creating the effect of the shooter “vanishing” from the court. Finally, and most importantly, the team must have a competent point guard who is proficient in a variety of passing techniques. Only then can the ball be delivered instantly when that fleeting opportunity arises. Throughout the entire process—the high screen is set and broken, the shooting guard and center run off-ball screens along the baseline, the center cuts back to the basket for a second screen, the shooting guard breaks free after the defense is compressed, and the point guard delivers the pass immediately… every single step is indispensable. In the reality we inhabit today, the Golden State Warriors are masters of this tactic. “Whoosh—!” On the court, Gu Yu’s movement was flawless; with just two steps left before reaching the sweet spot, Jeter had already delivered the pass. Great pass! Watching the speed and trajectory of the incoming basketball, Gu Yu silently praised it to himself. Jett’s pass was perfectly timed, matching his own running rhythm perfectly; as soon as he caught the ball, he could immediately… “... Thwack!” A hand appeared right in front of Gu Yu’s eyes. “I saw that coming…!” “Thump, thump, thump—!” Dribble and counterattack! “Wh-what…???” All the Kings players were stunned. Was that… an early steal?? How did he do that?! “... Phew!” Up front, the player who made the steal dribbled like the wind, cut inside the three-point line, suddenly slowed down against Jeter’s defense, and then lofted the ball high into the air. On the weak side, a slender, dark figure shot straight toward the sky with incredible vertical leap, soaring through the air. “…BAM!!!” Alley-oop slam dunk!!! “……woooooooooow——!!” The cheers didn’t erupt for two whole seconds—it seemed even the fans were caught off guard, never expecting the Mavericks’ counterattack to be so ferocious! “Lin.” The player who completed the dunk was, of course, the French guard Boubwa. After landing, he bounced slightly, as if to release the excess energy from the jump. He then turned around and pointed into the air. On the other side, the point guard who had made the pass was already retreating on defense. Spotting his teammate’s gesture from a distance, he too raised his hand with a smile on his lips. “Great pass and dunk!” Jeremy Lin! “Awesome—!!!” A thick Minnan accent rang out from all around the court, as many people of Chinese descent cheered enthusiastically, waving their signs. Among them, the banner from the “Harvard Alumni Alliance” stood out in particular—even though he went undrafted, Jeremy Lin’s popularity was evident. “Double-point-guard counterattack!” At the commentary booth, Smith’s eyes widened as he watched Jeremy Lin continue to guard Gu Yu on the court. He shook his head slightly and said, “The Mavericks are truly something else—this strategy is absolutely flawless!” “It’s okay, it’s okay. Let’s play another possession! Run, run!” The Kings continued their offense. This time, Jeter was even more cautious, watching as Gu Yu played a game of hide-and-seek with Jeremy Lin among the tall players, refusing to pass unless the opportunity was perfect. However… “Gu! One more time!” “Got it, got it!” Gu Yu was still working hard to get into position, but as he ran, he felt unusually light on his feet. What’s going on? “Gu, hurry up!” Cousins was still yelling, and Gu Yu didn’t slow down, but for some reason, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Why… “Whoosh—!” With flawless positioning, Gu Yu smoothly made his way near the sweet spot. But when Jeter passed the ball once again, Gu Yu’s brow remained deeply furrowed. “Why isn’t this Lin staying right by my side…?” “…Crack!” Another steal! “Fast—break—!!” Once again, Jeremy Lin snatched the ball out of the air. This time, Jeter was prepared and immediately stepped up to form the first line of defense. Lin, however, didn’t hesitate for a second; with a high lob pass, he sent the ball far up the court. That’s way too far…! From fans to reporters, everyone gasped. Lin’s pass was high enough to keep the shorter Jeter from reaching it, but it was a bit too long—the Mavericks hadn’t even crossed half-court yet, and the ball was already nearly at the Kings’ three-point line. “…Whoosh!” Just as Gu Yu was momentarily stunned, that black bolt of lightning beside him sprang forward like a cheetah once again. “That speed… that explosiveness!!!” Rodrigue Boiva shot forward like an arrow, sprinting past half-court and leaving everyone in the dust. Just as the ball entered the three-second zone, he stretched out his long arm to snatch it away, and then “…baaaaaaaaaaa—!!!” He slammed it home with both hands! “Yes! Yeeeeeeees—!!” On the sidelines, Mavericks fans were ecstatic, their cheers nearly bringing the arena roof down. On the court, the Kings players finally realized one thing. “This defensive strategy… it’s a psychological knockout…!” Beads of cold sweat broke out on Kenny Smith’s forehead. Leaning on the commentary desk with both hands, he gritted his teeth and said, “It’s not traditional man-to-man, nor is it a traditional box-and-one! The Mavericks’ strategy is to cut off all ‘passing lanes’ leading to Gu…!”