no shortcuts in basketball

Chapter 30 It's Late But Arrived
After the chat, Xu Yong and Harden left the house and went to DeRozan's house.

DeRozan was leaving the house when they went.

"James?" DeRozan was stunned for a long time when he saw Harden before he spoke.

Since Harden went to Tempe, they haven't seen each other again, and it has been more than half a year.

What's more, Harden's beard at this time has begun to take shape, which is completely different from before.

Harden went up and gave a warm hug.

Xu Yong can fully feel the intimacy of their relationship.

"Come on, let me introduce you. This is my friend Xu. He dunks better than you." Harden introduced with a smile.

"Really? Then I don't believe it." DeRozan smiled and reached out to Xu Yong.

Unlike the impression that he was deeply troubled by jade disease, DeRozan still looked very sunny at this time.

"I'm Xu Yong, James' teammate." Xu Yong introduced himself.

"Believe it or not, I'm ready to watch your dunk duel." Harden had an expression that he didn't think it was a big deal to watch the excitement.

Both DeRozan and Xu Yong shook their heads with a smile.

Xu Yong can fully feel that Harden's way of speaking is completely different from when he was in Tempe. On the one hand, he relieved all the pressure after returning home. On the other hand, he is also very relaxed in front of his friends.

"Don't worry, when we enter the NBA, we can compete in the dunk contest." Xu Yong continued.

This statement caught DeRozan by surprise.

"That's the expression. I also had the same expression on the first day I saw Xu." Harden said with a big laugh.

After seeing Harden's reaction, DeRozan thought about it, and finally said with a smile: "Then it's settled."

Although he didn't know where Xu Yong's self-confidence came from, but to be Harden's friend and let Harden recognize it like this, he knew that it was definitely not a show.

Because DeRozan still had to go to school for training, they didn't chat for too long. In his last year of high school, he had to do his best for a good college offer.

But they made an appointment for the game tonight, and DeRozan will go to the scene to support them.

……

At [-] o'clock that night, the game between the Devils and the Bruins officially kicked off at Pauley Arena, home of the UCLA campus.

Unlike the Wells Fargo Arena, the Poly Arena is a serious quasi-NBA-level arena, which can accommodate 1 people to watch the game live, which is quite impressive.

When Xu Yong came out of the player tunnel, he felt that the atmosphere was indeed different from that in Tempe.

He couldn't help but look forward to the playoffs and tournaments, especially the tournaments, which were huge venues worth [-] to [-] yuan.

Harden was also searching the crowd at this time, and finally locked his eyes on Giles, Willis and DeRozan in the auditorium.

NCAA ticket prices are not low, especially for focus games like tonight, but fortunately, players will be allocated some, but the number of positions will not be too good.

Xu Yong also saw them and reached out to greet them.

But at this moment, he noticed the densely packed flags hanging above the arena, and among them, there were ten flags for the championship championship alone!

It feels like there is a Himalayas standing in front of your eyes.

"Can we do it?" Just then, Ailes blurted out.

Although they have been advancing all the way after defeating Stanford University, they are no longer the belly of the previous two seasons, but what they have to face is UCLA after all.

No matter how brave the cheetah is, when it faces a lion, it will feel fear in its heart.

What's more, the last time they lost at home they lost their temper.

"Of course." Xu Yong and Harden said almost in unison, and then they both laughed at the same time.

For Harden, beating Stanford was just a taste of that kind of victory. To really experience it, he still has to beat an opponent like UCLA.

And the presence of his mother Willis gave him a reason to win.

As far as Xu Yong is concerned, as he once said to Harden, he will not be afraid of his opponent.

They failed to defend their home court last time. This time, their goal is to win the game back at UCLA's home court!
Ayres looked surprised, especially seeing Harden's reaction.

But thinking carefully about Harden's performance this month, he also realized that unconsciously, the team's two first-years had gradually left him behind.

If he doesn't work hard, he will become the "handle" of the trident!

"Yes, we can do it!" he said to the other players, and even more to himself.

After Ayers finished speaking, the members of the Devils all looked at the members of the opposite Bruins.

Come on, let's see if they are qualified to challenge the king of the Pac10 league!
The opening ceremony began quickly, and when the Bruins played, the cheers from the Los Angeles fans were deafening.

The background of the super wealthy came overwhelming.

But after the opening ceremony, the Bruins' starting lineup surprised the Devils.

Darren Collison, Josh Shipp, Luke Richard Mbah a Moute, Alfred Aboya, Kevin Love.

Aboya was the insider who was dunked by Xu Yongge in the last match. He played as a substitute before.

But that's not the point, what about Westbrook? !
he is injured?

Obviously not, he was there during the warm-up before the game, and he was also wearing training clothes at this time.

After seeing this scene, Xu Yong suddenly became excited.

The importance of Westbrook to the Bruins was fully reflected in the last match.

The most basic point is that the Bruins' defensive counterattack is based on Love's long pass and Westbrook's quick play.

Now that Westbrook is gone, this trick is greatly weakened.

Not to mention Westbrook's threat to the Devils' penalty area when UCLA cuts.

He didn't know for what purpose the Bruins head coach Howland made the adjustments. Maybe it was Westbrook's recent poor state, or maybe it was to deal with the way they played in the last match.

But no matter which one it is, this is a great opportunity for the Devils, a chance to gain an advantage at the beginning!
"Guys, don't hold back at the beginning, let them feel the flames of our revenge!" Xu Yong clenched his right fist and held it high.

"Come on! Devil team!" The demons of the devil team also raised their hands high, roaring from hell.

The game will start soon.

Ayres' blood boiled, and he jumped high to flip the ball back to Glasser, and the Devils won the first attack opportunity.

Harden's running position restrained the defense, Ayres cut to the basket after giving Xu Yong a pick-and-roll, received Glasser's pass and took the lead against Aboya's tough attack.

He doesn't want to be a "halberd handle"!
The Devils took the lead, and after retreating to the defensive end, they actually blocked UCLA's pass.

There are reasons why the Devils' defensive enthusiasm is full, and there are also reasons why Westbrook is not on the court.

After Ailes protected the defensive rebound, the Devils quickly played a defensive counterattack. Harden rushed to the frontcourt, directly smashed Collison and smashed the ball into the basket!

Just as Xu Yong asked, the Devils did their best at the beginning.

The scene was restless.

The two coaches on the sidelines were also pleasantly surprised.

The reason why Howland made the starting adjustment is similar to Xu Yong's guess, but it is a combination of two considerations, both strategic and Westbrook's status.

But he never expected that the Devils showed such a strong desire to win at the beginning, which was completely different from the team from a month ago.

Sandek was overjoyed. He could feel the desire of the players from the body language of the players, or what Xu Yong said was revenge.

Either way, he feels that the team looks very different from what it was a month ago.

Love forced Ayers in the low post, and his shots caused Ayers' defensive foul. His average size really can't stand it.

He made one of two free throws and also helped the Bruins start.

But looking back, Harden missed an outside shot, and Ayers and Xu Yong hit the basket continuously, which also caused Love's thug foul!

There is a detail that is easily overlooked on the court, that is, after the adjustment of the Bruins lineup, Mbah a Moute became a small forward, and the person defending Xu Yong changed from him to Aboya.

Aboya is at a disadvantage in terms of speed, flexibility, and even confrontation.

Le Fu fell into a situation where two fists were no match for four hands.

Xu Yong adjusted his breathing and made two consecutive free throws steadily.

Before the second free throw, he turned his head and glanced at Howlan on the sidelines. After seeing Howlan put on airs and did not make any substitutions, he immediately felt relieved.

At 7 minutes into the game, the score on the court was 12 to 4, and the Devils took the lead!

Before the first match against the Bruins, Xu Yong once told Harden that the chance of winning is to grab the start.

It's a pity that they didn't do it in that game, but tonight, although it was late, they did it!
(End of this chapter)