allendalepharm Chapter 14 First Preseason Game
Chapter 14 First Preseason Game
The American Airlines Center, formerly known as the American West Arena.
It was exactly 8 p.m.
The game begins with a jump ball between the two sides.
As the ball was tossed into the air, Amar'e Stoudemire jumped over Collins and easily flicked the ball to Marion, who then passed it to Nash, who was just past the halfway line.
The supersonics searched for their respective defenders to take their positions.
Du Xiaoshuai stood in front of Grant Hill, easily pinning him behind him and preventing him from receiving the ball.
Before the game, he used a pink-level status card. Although today was not the first game of the regular season, he was prepared to give Phoenix fans a shock and add some intensity to the league's preseason.
On the first offensive possession, before the SuperSonics' defense had even settled into position, Nash and Stoudemire executed a classic pick-and-roll, followed by a bounce pass, which Stoudemire then finished with a powerful dunk.
0-2.
This is a tactic frequently used by the Suns. Although it has been overused in the first three seasons and is now easily countered by other teams, it is obviously not applicable to the rebuilding SuperSonics.
Durant and Grant stood gentlemanly on the high ground, watching Stoudemire dunk and roar with passion.
Fans on the sidelines began waving their arms, like a field of flowers waiting to be sprayed.
"The fight just started, why are you getting so excited? What's with all the yelling?" Du Xiaoshuai muttered in Chinese as he ran back.
Supersonic attack.
Billups crossed half-court, raising his right index finger. Du Xiaoshuai started from the right corner, using Kurt Thomas as a screen, shaking off defender Marion in one step, and rounding to the top of the arc.
When the pass arrived, Marion had just caught up with Durant and didn't have time to jump before he saw Durant bend his knees, jump, and shoot.
The height at which the basketball left his hand caused Marion to furrow his brow slightly as he looked up.
"Whoosh!" The assist for the opera performance is in hand!
3-2.
"Good shot." Marion, with the air of a seasoned veteran, praised the shot with an air of seniority.
"Thank you." Du Xiaoshuai smiled shyly, bent down to gather his strength and leaped, using the momentum to run back to the front court like a happy deer.
The Suns were on offense. Nash dribbled the ball across half-court. This time, the SuperSonics were on guard. Nash flicked the ball to Marion, who had run out of the three-point line. Durant switched to defend him.
Marion caught the ball and shot, replicating Durant's shooting motion.
Bend your knees, jump, and release!
The 2.06-meter-tall hacker is also known for his long arms; his attack point is very high, but his posture is a bit strange.
How so?
She's a bit effeminate!
"Bang!" Du Xiaoshuai's size exceeded Marion's expectations. Not only was his height and wingspan exaggerated, but his jumping ability was also terrifying. The ball that had just left his hand was instantly slapped back.
"Oh my god, Shawn's shot got blocked! Unbelievable! Durant's height and wingspan are just too amazing!" the Suns' home commentator screamed. "Is this the second overall pick in this year's draft?!"
The fans in the front row all covered their heads! Like withered flowers after being drenched by a heavy rain.
Fortunately, Marion is a seasoned veteran and wasn't stunned by the block. He quickly grabbed the ball back, but this time he didn't dare to shoot again and turned to pass the ball back to Nash.
The artillery bombardment failed, and the battle became a positional war.
The Suns reorganized, with everyone running and the basketball being passed around quickly, but Nash ultimately finished the play with a Euro-step layup.
3-4.
The SuperSonics' interior defense is weak. They lack All-Star or elite-level role players, and their teamwork and chemistry are insufficient, making it easy for the Suns, with their all-around contributions, to break through their defense.
Fortunately, the SuperSonics coaching staff and players had anticipated this and were not discouraged.
Facing a high-scoring team like the Suns, there are few teams in the entire league that dare to say they can defend against them.
If you can't defend, fight back on offense!
Supersonic ball possession.
Billups advanced the ball down the middle and passed it to the left wing, tossing it into the air for Durant to score one-on-one.
When Du Xiaoshuai jumped up to receive the ball, the experienced Marion had already pounced on him.
Without dribbling, he faked a shot, but Marion didn't fall for it. Durant caught the ball with one hand, set up a triple threat, and then swung a windmill dunk.
Seeing Marion unable to resist spreading his slender arms to wrap around him, Du Xiaoshuai dribbled behind his back, turned sideways and used his shoulder to push away the thin Marion, did a 360-degree spin like a washing machine, then took a long stride to get half a body length away, then tiptoed to turn and avoid Grant who was blocking his way, came to the bottom of the basket, and lightly jumped to catch the ball with one hand and dunk.
"Thud!" The sound of a dunk was clean and crisp.
5-4.
"Thank you." Du Xiaoshuai said shyly as he passed Marion on his way back to defend.
Marion frowned slightly, his short eyebrows furrowing in confusion at Durant's thanks. However, the Suns' fast-paced offense left him little time for words.
For the next seven minutes, the score went back and forth between the two teams.
The Suns' offense is too powerful, fast, and accurate. Even if they miss, they are fierce in grabbing offensive rebounds.
On the Supersonics side, Du Xiaoshuai, who had unlimited firing rights, was firing like crazy.
Unlike his previous life, Du Xiaoshuai, now enhanced by the system badge, is young and physically strong, allowing him to handle nearly twice as many possessions of the ball!
In the original timeline, Durant averaged only 17.4 field goal attempts in his rookie season, with around 20 attempts in the midfield. Now, Durant is unleashing his full potential, easily taking 40+ shots in a single game like the leader, and his shooting percentage is unlikely to drop below 50%.
Even if I, Du Xiaoshuai, am completely shut down, blocked, fouled, and have a terrible shooting touch, I can't possibly make 17 out of 47!
Today, Du Xiaoshuai also used a "state card" (a special skill), and his touch was hot as soon as he entered the game. Even when double-teamed, he couldn't possibly be so bad when facing three opponents at once.
27-29, the Supersonics are down by 2 points.
Du Xiaoshuai made 8 of 11 shots, scoring 19 points efficiently, including 3 of 4 from three-point range, and his performance was so smooth that he didn't need any free throws.
比卢普斯三分2中1，罚球2中1，拿了4分，杰夫·格林2分。
On the Suns' side, the scoring wasn't as concentrated, but Nash had already racked up 6 assists without anyone noticing.
D'Antoni called a timeout.
Although the team was temporarily in the lead and their scoring and shooting percentage were fine, the bearded man, who had been playing a run-and-gun offense for three years, still noticed something was wrong.
Nash's assist numbers are rising too fast!
Although Nash won the assist title several times, he was the tactical initiator in the team's system, and his indirect assists were even more difficult to defend against.
The team's offense has flaws!
In the first half of the game, the Suns scored 29 points, which is quite a fierce offensive performance under their run-and-gun system. However, the Suns' 29 points were only from two mid-range and long-range shots, which only accounted for 4 points. They also made 4 of 9 three-point attempts, which accounted for 12 points. The rest of their points came from drives to the basket, dunks, or free throws.
The Suns' mid-range shooting isn't bad; Nash and Stoudemire are both quite accurate, and Hill is also above average.
The team's offensive rhythm was disrupted, but not very obviously.
D'Antoni tried to recall the first half of the game and suddenly realized that the opponent's defense was not as weak as he had imagined, and there was a strangely familiar sense of system.
Kevin Garnett!
Just half a quarter ago, the opposing team's number 35 displayed the same sweeping defensive effect inside the three-point line as the Timberwolves' number 21!
Because Durant is positioned as an outside player, the defense under the basket was not in place, which gave Nash the opportunity to assist, but the mid-range passing and shooting were obviously restricted.
This also means that the SuperSonics haven't yet built a tactical system to support Durant's defensive capabilities, so their overall defensive deterrence still has weaknesses!
The Wolf King scored 20+ points in a single quarter?
Even a stone Buddha would have to give way to it!
Where the hell did this rookie come from?!
Who can translate this? You call this a "prodigy"?
After reading the Summer League scouting report, D'Antoni slapped his forehead, his head buzzing a little. He had initially thought his scouts had exaggerated, but it turned out they had been conservative!
Negligence! Failure to report a fact!
He gathered the players together in a circle, gestured wildly with his tactical board, and said, spitting as he spoke, "Listen up, from now on, on defense, wear down their number 35. Don't let him score comfortably. Get some physical contact..."
After the timeout, Marion started to mark closely, Grant Hill helped defend, and Durant failed to receive the ball for two consecutive rounds.
The fans in the stands were thrilled and chanted in unison, "Defend—!"
In the third round, Du Xiaoshuai positioned himself on the right side of the midfield, executing a flank clearing tactic. All his teammates moved to the left, and Billups delivered a high lob pass. Du Xiaoshuai jumped with his back to goal to receive the ball, and Marion pushed forward, subtly applying force with his elbow.
Durant dribbled once, feinting with his right shoulder, while Marion remained unfazed. On his second dribble, Durant suddenly turned to the left, facing the basket, and feinted a shot – in that instant when Marion's ankle trembled slightly, Durant lowered his center of gravity and broke through from the right. He took a half-body step past Marion, bursting into the paint, where Stoudemire provided help defense.
Durant gathers the ball, takes a Euro step, withstands Stoudemire's waist-grabbing foul, and successfully makes a reverse layup.
"Thanks."
During the free throw, Du Xiaoshuai shyly spoke to Marion, who was preparing to grab the rebound.
Everyone was baffled, Marion with his ugly face and crotch split.
Ever since his first goal was praised, Du Xiaoshuai would run up to Marion and say "thank you" every time he scored.
Is this trash talk from young people?
The hacker felt like he'd run into a lunatic!
33-36.
With the free throw made, Du Xiaoshuai had already scored 23 points in the first quarter, prompting P.J. to call a timeout.
Du Xiaoshuai and Chauncey were substituted, and the starting lineup was changed to include substitutes in all positions except for Jeff Green.
The Suns have also started rotating their players, with five players in and five out!
Regardless of win-loss records, Mike D'Antoni can make bold choices in personnel.
At this point, the situation on the court reveals why D'Antoni usually plays conservatively in his player selection.
The Suns' bench players were quick and versatile, but they couldn't keep up with the other rotation players, and rookie Dragic was still on the bench. The Suns' pure bench players and the SuperSonics played for 3 minutes and each scored 2 points, like the Sleeping Dragon and the Young Phoenix, without even getting a free throw!
The more than 20,000 fans in the stadium were almost yawning from watching.
After the first quarter, Du Xiaoshuai did not return to the court. During the break, he sat with his teammates and male fans in the front row watching the cheerleaders dance.
People come to watch the game live, isn't it all for this!
Capture every detail the director missed!
In my past life in the country, how could I have accumulated any merit or blessings during festivals?
The camera cut to GG's side in less than two seconds!
It must be said that the lighthouse's enthusiasm and exuberance were truly delightful. The cheerleaders varied in appearance, but their figures perfectly matched Black aesthetics. With the bright lights in front and behind, even Du Xiaoshuai's physical genes seemed to stir.
What should I do if I get very irritable?
At the start of the second quarter, Durant requested to enter the game early. P.J. rested Jeff Green, also making a five-in-five-out rotation, and put all the other starters back on the court. He then moved Durant to shooting guard and Posey to small forward.
It's a bit of a time to travel off-peak.
The Suns are letting Nash and Hill continue to rest, as both are getting on in years, especially Grant Hill, who is known for his injury-prone nature and must be kept under 25 minutes per game.
Without Nash as the engine and Hill as the pivot, Barbosa and Diaw were slightly more energetic, but their firepower and ability to draw defenders were significantly weakened, and the Suns' lead was quickly tied.
Durant drew a double team and passed the ball to Billups, who made a layup, adding one assist.
42-42.
In the transition between offense and defense, Barbosa made a quick breakthrough but was blocked by the experienced Thomas. He passed the ball to Stoudemire, who took a mid-range shot, but it was blocked by Durant's long arm reaching out from the side and missed. Collins secured the rebound.
Back in the attacking third, Du Xiaoshuai received the ball at a 45-degree angle on the right, with his back to Marion. Facing Barbosa's cover, he made a sharp change of direction, dodging Barbosa's low cross-court shot, and swung the ball with both hands in a half-circle motion, releasing it with a Nowitzki-esque one-legged fadeaway.
"Bang!"
Du Xiaoshuai felt the shot was off when he took it. He took two big steps into the paint from the high post and jumped, his eyes level with the basket and his head almost sticking out of the rim. He pressed down on the three inside players who were entangled under the basket and shoved the rebounding ball into the basket!
Violent aesthetics!
44-42.
"Oh! — Shh —"
The home fans started to get upset. Why was it their own player who got dunked on?
What? Both players were fouled?
Ok!
Collins under the basket was expressionless, as if he were numb!
He grabbed the rim with one hand to cushion the fall, jumped back to the ground, and gave Marion a cheeky grin: "Thanks."
I'm fucking idiot!
This guy is insane!
Marion, who had just been dunked on under the basket, was a bit off. He had never seen such a shameless rookie. He had only said one trash talk compliment, which was not even worth mentioning, and he was being attacked by him for the entire game.
The key issue is that Durant's performance is terrifying. If you were a rookie, even if he made a basket and trash-talked you, he would have a chance to say a few more words.
Du Xiaoshuai is almost as good as the Indian version of Tang Sanzang.
Focusing on offense, the Suns launched their signature V-shaped attack. Barbosa used a screen and his superior speed to break through, drawing a double team, and passed the ball to Raja Bell in the corner, who then passed it to Marion at the top of the key.
Marion takes an open three-pointer—Du Xiaoshuai dives from the free-throw line, leaping with all his might. His fingertips graz the bottom of the ball, and it bounces off the rim and far away.
Billups grabbed the rebound and launched a fast break. It was a two-on-two situation in the frontcourt. Durant followed up on the left wing, and Billups made a bounce pass. Durant received the ball a step inside the three-point line.
He was up against Stoudemire, a false center who hadn't even crossed halfway.
Durant didn't slow down, and with Giannis Antetokounmpo-esque steps to the three-point line, he took three big steps and jumped. Stoudemire, with his explosive power, jumped to block the shot as he retreated to defend. In mid-air, Stoudemire pressed his hands forward and landed at the highest point, while Durant's shoulders were still rising.
The two men's chest muscles collided briefly in mid-air before quickly separating. Using the momentum, they pulled in their stomachs, did a somersault, and Du Xiaoshuai slammed the deformed basketball into the hoop with one hand, his forearm almost a foot inside!
46-42!
Isn't it amazing that the seven-foot version of Vince Carter can dunk over a defender and then insert his hand into the basket?
"boom--"
The entire US aviation hub was in an uproar!
That dunk was absolutely electrifying, it's definitely the top play of the day!
The whistle blows, and the penalty is increased.
Stoudemire commits a defensive foul.
The Western Conference arena erupted in boos during the free throw.
"Swish"
The penalty was made.
47-42.
Although the number of free throws is not large, Du Xiaoshuai has only missed one free throw so far, including in the Summer League, which is very solid.
The Suns requested a substitution.
Less than two minutes into the second quarter, the Suns, without Nash, were forced to call a timeout.
The supersonic team overtook them by 5 points.
Back on the court, the Suns regained possession, and the entire starting lineup instantly transformed them like a sports car with a new engine, speeding up yet maintaining stability.
The score went back and forth again, with both sides almost exclusively attacking and not defending, making the game seem like a game of mutual trust.
However, the Suns players followed D'Antoni's instructions and consciously made Durant's offensive environment uncomfortable and limited his defensive movement space, although they did not go all out.
Despite being targeted extra by the opposing team, Du Xiaoshuai didn't act recklessly. In the latter part of the second quarter, he noticed that his stamina was dropping too quickly, so he switched to a mode of attracting double teams and passing the ball.
At this moment, experienced championship point guard Chauncey Billups stepped up.
The SuperSonics actually had possession of the ball primarily in Chauncey's hands. Durant had the most shot attempts, but his possession time was not higher than Chauncey's.
This is somewhat similar to that blacksmith in Los Angeles. As some experts have embellished, this is an advantage unique to championship-caliber stars like Jordan.
In many highlight reels, you'll notice that at the start of each offensive possession, the ball is often not in the hands of these players. They need to constantly move around to shake off their defenders, and they are often responsible for the most lethal shot: a reverse dunk, a three-pointer, or a mid-range jumper. If they win, they're heroes; if they lose, they blame their teammates.
Another type of player who relies even more on ball possession is the system player. He holds the ball outside the three-point line, dribbles it slowly for five or six seconds, then makes a series of impressive moves, only to turn around and pass it to a teammate. It seems the ball has to pass through his hands at least once.
To be frank, in China, only older unit leaders and their subordinates would dare to do this when playing ball!
There was no basketball involved, just pure human relationships and social niceties.
As the championship point guard, the player who was performing in the opera quickly noticed something was wrong and changed the pace, directing the others to run the tactics and pass the ball more between them.
Whether with or without the ball, Durant in his previous life was a perfect finisher, known as the league's ultimate weapon, even the old rogue had to challenge him, but his organization and passing were not top-notch.
Especially for the transit point, as a pure finisher, the habit of receiving the ball and then shooting contradicts the concept of the transit point itself.
In this life, Durant inherited over twenty years of basketball skills, and his enhanced physical talent allowed him to surpass his original form and imitate players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Garnett, and Dirk Nowitzki.
However, there are still some issues regarding basketball philosophy or positioning that he cannot resolve, nor does he intend to resolve them himself.
Basketball is a team sport, and being an all-rounder is certainly good, but it requires a lot of time and effort to train, and success is not guaranteed, so it's not worth it.
Du Xiaoshuai's principle is to improve the few areas where he is not good at, and if they can't be improved, let the team find a way to strengthen them. He just needs to avoid being too bad himself.
Billups perfectly complements this.
On offense, his playmaking isn't as good as Nash's, but it's enough. His pace isn't as fast as Nash's, but it's very consistent. His shooting isn't as accurate as Nash's 180 Club shots, but he's incredibly reckless.
When the star player is heavily targeted, he can create space for others to run into open positions by drawing defenders and orchestrating the team's offense. After all, no one has yet emerged who can effectively limit Durant one-on-one on offense, so even off-ball movement requires help defense.
Despite playing 4 against 3.5, Billups said he could still hold his own, even though his teammates were a bit weak.
That's enough. If your teammates can't score even when they're in open space, then you'll have to leave it to P.J. Carlesimo to patiently teach them.
Once a teammate runs into a clear open space, Du Xiaoshuai, with his twenty years of offensive reading experience and enhanced vision, can make a precise pass without much thought and easily rack up assists.
68-66.
At halftime, Nash still couldn't help the Suns take the lead.
Du Xiaoshuai scored 35 points in the first half, along with 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 4 blocks!