no shortcuts in basketball

Chapter 293 "It's not that difficult, isn't it?"

GOAT?

This was Xu Yong's first reaction after he came to his senses.

The abbreviation of this word means "goat". It appeared in the sports world in the 1970s. Boxing champion Ali called himself GOAT and was recognized by boxing fans at the time, so it spread.

Later, some basketball fans also applied this term to Jordan, but Jordan did not recognize it because what he held was inappropriate to compare different eras.

Then before Xu Yong was reborn, James forcibly tweeted that he called himself GOAT and kept wearing the crown for himself. Later, he was ridiculed by fans and became the deputy goat.

It is precisely because of his approach that the term GOAT began to spread in the basketball circle, and everyone would call themselves GOAT.

However, the current situation is very different from Xu Yong's previous life. Although James still wears the crown for himself, he does not have the confidence to call himself GOAT. This word is still used.

Xu Yong's view of the best in history is similar to Jordan's, but there is really no more appropriate words than this, because there is a high probability that other words will be compared with Jordan's words and become a foil statue.

However, if this statue is really erected, it means that Xu Yong will be under tremendous pressure. After all, Xu Yong's Bulls career deserves this honor, but his future career is still unknown.

On the night of the game day, the attendance at the United Center was the same as in all games since Xu Yong's comeback. The venue was full.

And when Xu Yong stepped into the stadium, he could see many people in the stands holding big KT boards with his name, and some of them had slogans written on them, such as "Welcome home, Satan", " Chicago is your forever home,” “We love you, Seo,” and more.

Even with a series of previous foreshadowings, Xu Yong was still moved when he saw this familiar scene.

Others in the Mavericks were also greatly shocked. This is most likely the first time in NBA history that a former club treated him like this after switching careers.

"Boss, they even forgot that I am also a former Bull." Jokic sighed.

Xu Yong ignored his words. The boy's seemingly self-deprecating words were another accurate flattery.

After the warm-up of both sides is over, the scene is ready to enter the opening ceremony.

At this moment, the lights suddenly dimmed.

This is an unusual move, because the opening ceremony begins with the visiting team and then the home team, and the visiting team does not need the spotlight.

After the lights went out, a short film began to play on the large LED screen in tribute to Xu Yong's short film.

From the time Xu Yong was drafted by the Grizzlies with the second overall pick, to being traded to the Bulls, he became the Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Player, All-Star, FMVP, Champion, and finally won three consecutive championships.

When the short film ended, the spotlight of the scene fell on Xu Yong.

After this scene was projected on the large LED screen, uniform shouts rang out from the scene: "Satan! Satan!"

The scene seemed familiar, as if Xu Yong was still wearing the red and white No. 6 jersey.

Xu Yong's eyes were already red at this time.

As a reborn person and a person in two lives, his emotional fluctuations are smaller than that of ordinary people. However, from the time he returned to Chicago, this series of things that happened continued to stir his heart, and one warm current after another finally converged. It became a current and hit him directly.

He nodded, finally smiled with red eyes, and reached out to wave to his fans.

On the court at this time, in the peripheral vision of the spotlight, both Jokic, who was smiling the most happily on the Mavericks side, and the players on the Bulls side, were all reaching out to applaud Xu Yong.

This is unprecedented treatment, provided that Xu Yong brought 8 championships to the city in the first 5 years of his career.

When the opening ceremony was over, Xu Yong sat back on the bench, lowered his head and took a few deep breaths to calm down.

"Boss, are you okay?" Jokic came over and asked with concern.

Xu Yong looked up at Jokic and nodded, indicating that he was fine.

"I feel better than ever," he added.

After the opening ceremony, the starting lineups of both sides were announced one after another.

Mavericks: Wright, DeRozan, Xu Yong, Poeltl, Jokic.

Bulls: Beverley, Holiday, Butler, Aldridge, Adams.

Malone still has a good understanding of the Bulls. After the Bulls traded for Aldridge, they used much less defensive counterattack tactics, preferring a defensive team that plays positionally.

But this does not mean that the Bulls have become easier to play. It can even be said that they have become stronger.

Because there is no [vertical take-off rule], Adams' defensive ability in the penalty area has been significantly enhanced. Coupled with the three defensive gates of Beverley, Holiday, and Butler on the outside, the Bulls currently have the highest average per game among NBA teams. The team that concedes the fewest points.

Jokic moved the ball back to half court, and the game officially began.

The Bulls defended a 2-3 zone defense.

Although there are not many tactics on the offensive end, Thibodeau's ability on the defensive end is obvious to all.

This is because knowing that Xu Yong and DeRozan are out of shape, shrinking defense can have the best effect.

At this time, Xu Yong and DeRozan were covering the back pocket and came out to receive the ball. Holiday, who was on guard against him, took a step back.

Xu Yong raised his hand and threw it away.

Holiday didn't expect Xu Yong to shoot so resolutely at the beginning, and he was obviously slow to pounce again.

Not only did he not expect it, but Thibodeau also didn't expect it. You must know that Xu Yong has never found his touch after his comeback.

"Shh!"

There was a clear sound of entering the net, and Xu Yong pulled out his hand and dropped it into the bag!

Thibodeau was stunned.

The tribute to Xu Yong before the game was their love for Xu Yong, but after all, Xu Yong is now an opponent.

Thibodeau came to his senses at this time. One ball does not mean that Xu Yong's touch has recovered.

Aldridge and Butler hit the ball in the mid-range after picking and rolling. He is not very suitable for Thibodeau's tactical system, but the chemistry between him and Butler is quite good.

Then looking back, Xu Yong continued to catch the ball tactically. This time he saw Holiday pounce forward, and after a feint, he continued to take action.

Holiday's defensive steps on this ball were very good, but Xu Yong's overall speed and rhythm were very fast, and he finally found space.

However, this kind of swinging ball is much more difficult than the previous open shot.

"Shh!"

But Xu Yong's shot came up empty again.

There was a commotion in the place.

Regarding the fact that Xu Yong's shooting touch is average after his comeback, not only Thibodeau knows about it, but the fans also know it.

But is Xu Yong's consecutive hitting performance in the opening game a bit different from their impressions?

In fact, let alone them, the Mavericks players did not expect it at all, and even their enthusiasm on the court soared.

Originally, the Mavericks were not as strong as the Bulls this season, especially with DeRozan and Xu Yong in sluggish form. The symbolic significance of Xu Yong's return to Chicago tonight is greater than the game itself.

But Xu Yong's opening state was undoubtedly a shot in the arm for them.

Xu Yong has found his form and they can beat anyone!

After successfully defending against the Bulls' positional attack, Xu Yong came back and hit his third shot of the night in the positional battle. Holiday saved the shot more thoroughly and was called for a defensive foul.

Once may be luck, but twice is not enough to explain the problem, but three times, and after three consecutive hits at the beginning, even the fans know that Xu Yong feels hot tonight.

"It's impossible for Xu to always find his touch. Since he has to find it, why can't it be tonight?" This also excited Barkley in the commentary box. Jokic looked at Xu Yong at this time and knew what Xu Yong's opening words meant.

Xu Yong's feeling is really better than ever since his comeback.

Butler forced the basket and caused Jokic to foul and made two free throws.

And looking back, with Thibodeau directing from the sidelines, the Bulls skipped the process and began to double attack Xu Yong.

This move was very targeted, but it didn't work.

After encountering a double attack, Xu Yong returned the ball to Jokic, then cut in and received Jokic's return pass immediately, broke through to the basket, faced Adams' rim protection, and directly stuffed the ball to the other side. Poeltl's mid-range shot from the baseline hit the net empty-handedly.

As the No. 2014 pick in 9, Poeltl, affectionately called "Botou" by fans, is better than Powell in other aspects except that he moves slightly slower.

Of course, the most important thing about this goal is the exquisite cooperation between Xu Yong and Jokic.

This kind of cooperation between the two will not be unfamiliar even to the fans at the scene, because there was a good chemical reaction between the two as early as the Bulls.

And Malone also came to the sidelines at this time and made new tactical gestures.

After successfully preventing another wave of offense from the Bulls, looking back, Jokic began to hold the ball at the top of the key.

Although the [vertical takeoff rule] has been cancelled, Jokic's inside-space ability is still there. Once he stops at the three-point line, the entire offensive space of the Mavericks becomes completely different.

Xu Yong cut in and out at this time, received a pass from Jokic and hit another shot.

After the opening, Xu Yong's performance in the mid-range was 4 of 4.

It's hard to say whether he has found his shooting touch, after all, the sample size is not enough, but at least tonight, his shooting touch was quite online.

Malone couldn't help but grin.

In fact, this tactic is very simple and can bring out the respective characteristics of Xu Yong and Jokic.

The reason why it was used less or basically not in previous games was simply because Xu Yong's shots were inaccurate.

After all, if you take it out and others let you go, you still have to rush to the basket. This tactic is in vain.

But now that Xu Yong feels online, the situation has become completely different.

Aldridge played from behind in the low post, turned around and hit his signature pull-up with a slight fadeaway.

With this configuration of the Bulls, the offensive end is all directed at Butler and Aldridge, and winning mainly relies on defense.

But now their defense is being tested.

Xu Yong broke through to the basket with a fake shot, and directly flew to the basket for a gliding dunk.

Adams was pulled to the free throw line, and Poeltl stretched space on the weak side. The Bulls couldn't take it back.

The [Vertical Jump Rule] allows the center's defensive ability under the basket to return, making it more difficult for the offensive side to break through, but basketball has not regressed because the importance of space has been taken seriously.

From this perspective, the Mavericks are a team with more modern basketball characteristics than the Bulls.

At the end of the first quarter, the Mavericks unexpectedly turned away and led the Bulls by double digits 31 to 21 in the first quarter.

Xu Yong hit all his five shots in the first quarter. After that, although he encountered a high-intensity attack, he still scored 5 points in a single quarter.

Although 20 points in a single quarter was nothing to Xu Yong before his retirement, it was of great significance to Xu Yong after his comeback.

As said before, Xu Yong needs such a game too much.

It's just that the game will obviously not be that simple. The Bulls won the second place in the Eastern Conference in a forest of strong opponents.

During the transition period between the benches in the second quarter, Butler did not rest. Although he did not attack much, he increased the defensive intensity on the court. He also blocked DeRozan once. Under his leadership, the Bulls took advantage of The iconic defensive counterattack quickly erased the score difference.

After all, the strength of the rotation players of this Mavericks team is very average. This is not obvious when playing against a weak team like the Lakers, but when playing against an opponent like the Bulls, the lineup appears to be very thin.

Originally, DeRozan was leading the team's offense on the court during this period, but like Xu Yongyong, he was still in a deep slump.

Ma Long saw this and called a timeout.

Xu Yong was replaced at this time, and DeRozan was still left on the court.

Just when he was on the court, Xu Yong pulled DeRozan in front of him.

"Demar, I need you." Xu Yong said directly.

"Even if no one believes you can do it, I still believe in you because we came all the way from Tempe and no one knows you better than me."

Xu Yong's words were not very inflammatory, but they made DeRozan's eyes light up.

How many people are at a loss because they lack someone to say "I need you" to them.

DeRozan has lost his family, his lover, and even the career he worked for. He is constantly being abandoned.

At this time, even if he wanted to, his body was resisting.

What are you doing when you are so tired? What's the point? What can be changed?

The seeds of depression spread throughout the body like poison.

But Xu Yong said "I need you" and gave an irrefutable reason.

Seeing DeRozan's reaction, Xu Yong reached out and hammered his chest: "Finish it, just like we did in Tempe."

Back from the timeout, the Bulls' offense.

Jokic was still resting off the court at this time. Xu Yong was holding the ball on the outside. He and Poeltl played a pick-and-roll, but they were flanked when they cut in.

At this time, Xu Yong passed the ball to DeRozan on the weak side.

DeRozan actually got a wide open opportunity directly.

Jokic's absence and DeRozan's slump made the Bulls' defense against Xu Yong somewhat unscrupulous.

DeRozan catches the ball, jumps, and shoots.

His movements seemed no different from before, but they seemed to be completely different.

Because he did not hesitate in taking action, but was quite decisive.

"Shh!"

If you hesitate, you will lose, if you are decisive, you will win. DeRozan's mid-range shot also fell into the bag!

Thibodeau's eyes widened at this moment.

Xu Yong's recovery of touch can also be attributed to his familiarity with "his own basket", but DeRozan?

Xu Yong high-fived DeRozan while retreating and said with a smile: "It's not that difficult, isn't it?"

DeRozan finally showed a smile on his tense face.

Yes, just like they did in Tempe.

(End of this chapter)