no shortcuts in basketball

Chapter 51
After defeating the University of Memphis, Arizona State University successfully reached the conference finals.

So far, away from their previous goal of the semi-finals, there is only the last opponent left, and of course their strongest opponent in this division, the University of Connecticut Huskies.

UConn is a team with a very long history, and even their head coach Jim Calhoun has been in the team for 39 years.

Ray Allen, Rudy Gay, Richard Hamilton, Caron Butler, Emeka Okafor...

These famous names are also the best witnesses to the history of this team.

They have won two NCAA championships in school history and are also the favorite team for this year's championship.

In the survey list at the beginning of the season, they ranked fourth, and they have not dropped out of the top five throughout the season.

So when the divisional rankings came out, they were the most aggrieved ones.

The soul of the team, this year's No. [-] pick Hashim Thabeet even directly stated in front of the media: "That (first in the division) should belong to us."

Then, they took it all on their opponents.

In the first round, they beat Cal State Northridge by 58 points.

Then beat the University of Maryland by 30 points in the second round and advanced all the way to the final.

Now they finally have the opportunity to "grab" their position against Arizona State University, which is destined to be a game full of highlights.

There are two days between the semifinals and finals of the division. In order to reduce the pressure on the players, Sandek organized an intra-team table tennis match after training.

Facts have proved that this method is very effective. Amidst the laughter and laughter, the team members relaxed a lot.

After the extra training in the evening, Xu Yong, Harden and DeRozan sat on the balcony on the top floor of the arena, chatting while admiring the moonlight.

"They have that big guy inside, it will be very difficult to play." Harden said, shaking his legs.

The guy he was talking about was Thabeet.

When they played Stanford University last season, the penalty area guarded by the Lopez brothers left a deep impression on them, but compared with Thabeet, they are like Howard standing in front of Yao Ming, and they suddenly become pocket-sized.

Thabeet is 2 meters tall, has a wingspan of 21 meters and weighs 2 kilograms. This is simply a giant in the NCAA and a mountain of Huskies.

He averaged 6.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game as a freshman, making his debut;
The sophomore averaged 10.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game, emerging;
In his junior year, he averaged 13.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game this season, showing his sharpness.

DeRozan nodded when he heard the words, this kind of guy stops inside, don't even think about breaking through inside.

You must know that the NCAA does not have three seconds of defense like the NBA. Thabeet can always squat under the basket.

"He won't be our problem." Xu Yong said at this moment.

Harden and DeRozan turned their heads in doubt when they heard the words.

"That guy's offensive skills are as rough as a dollar of toilet paper. He has no offensive threat in positional warfare. We only need to play fast, and his role is very limited. I believe the coach will choose that." Xu Yong Then he said.

Both of them nodded one after another, and Xu Yong's analysis hit the nail on the head.

If a player of this giant level can't play a threat on the offensive end, the defensive end will inevitably become a burden because of his slow movement.

And it just so happens that the Devils are the kind of team that can play fast.

"Then we're sure to win?" Harden couldn't help but look forward to it. It's exciting to think about the final four.

Xu Yong shook his head, and continued, "I'm worried about Kemba Walker."

"That first-year guy?" Harden was puzzled.

"Is he just a substitute?" DeRozan also echoed.

What they said was correct. The first-year Walker was not only a substitute in this UConn team, but he hadn't scored [-] points in the previous games. Xu Yong would be worried about such a player.

"Do you still remember Derrick Rose last season and Isaiah Thomas this season? We have not had much to do with this kind of defender who is good at breakthroughs." Xu Yong continued.

This is not only a problem of their high outside height this season, but also that they don't have an inside line that can guard the penalty area, that is, the legendary black and tough.

Ayres is not that type of player, and neither is the substitute Boateng.

Harden and DeRozan still didn't care too much, whether it was Rose or Thomas, Walker was still far behind them.

"But Demar is right. He is just a substitute, and our chances are still greater than theirs." Xu Yong said with a smile, not wanting them to worry too much.

He had the impression that Zhongkang won the NCAA championship two years later, in 2011.

The current UConn should not realize Walker's true energy, like a boss that has not yet developed, their chances are naturally great.

Hearing this, Harden and DeRozan showed anticipation in their eyes again.

If you really make it to the semi-finals, will the championship be far behind?

……

On the second day, the University of Phoenix Stadium was full of more than 6 people, and like the previous game, the number of Arizona fans still reached [-].

Arizona State's "home court advantage" continues.

And in the auditorium of this game, the scouts of the top teams in the lottery area also came to the scene.

Although Thabeet is already a junior this year, such a giant player will be the top pick in any election.

"Once Thabeet has the ball, flank him. We need to play out the speed, switch with them, do the details, and believe in yourself." Sandek once again emphasized the strategic deployment before the game.

As Xu Yong expected, a coach of Sandek's level will not hold back at critical moments.

"Devil team! Come on!"

After a final chants, the Devils' starters took the lead on the field to the cheers of [-] Arizona fans.

For the Devils, Sandek followed the regular starting lineup, with Harden and DeRozan on the outside, Cooksix plus Xu Yong on the front, and Ayres on the inside.

爱斯基摩犬队那边的首发也很快登场：1米88的控球后卫12号AJ·普莱斯、1米90的得分后卫24号克雷格·奥斯特里、2米01的小前锋4号杰夫·阿德里安、2米06的大前锋21号斯坦利·罗宾逊，以及中锋34号塔比特。

Kangda has five starters and three quasi-NBA players, and they are not bad at all in terms of talent.

However, Kemba Walker, like the previous game, did not appear in the starting lineup.

And it is worth mentioning that Jerome Dyson, their No. 2 scorer and NBA prospect, was injured in February this year, which is why the NCAA organizing committee did not list them as the No. [-] seed. main reason.

Thabeet hopped the ball back halfway over Ayers' head, and the Huskies got the chance to attack first.

Thabeet put Ailes under him with his back in the frontcourt, reaching for the ball.

When your team has a giant like Thabeet and encounters an opponent like the Devils with a center whose height does not exceed 2 meters, it is not appropriate not to dig inside.

Price's passing skills are solid, and he lobbed the ball to Thabeet at the right time.

Thabeet received the ball, glanced at the positions of other defenders, confirmed that there was no flanking, and then dribbled and turned to hit the board.

But the moment he was about to take the ball and make a shot, he suddenly felt light in his hand, and looked down, the ball was gone!
The coach lays out the tactics, but the tactics depend on the players to execute them.

In the round just now, Xu Yong can be said to have perfectly executed Sandek's flanking strategy.

Because he didn't attack at the first time, but waited for Thabeet to turn around before retracting the flank attack, which directly deceived Thabeet.

Of course, this is also related to his speed. Although he plays the fourth position, his speed is at the level of a swingman.

And after completing the steal, Xu Yong once again perfectly executed Sandek's strategy of playing fast, dribbling the ball directly from the backcourt for a one-stop fast break!
The cheers of the Arizona fans at the scene could not be stopped.

When all the power forwards of your team can hold the ball and go down quickly, there is only one emotion left, excitement!

Price has been defending against Xu Yong, and he did a pretty good job of not losing his position or risking a steal.

However, when the two sides entered the penalty area, he found that what he had done before was useless.

Because Xu Yong ignored him, he jumped up in front of him like a spring.

"Oh!"

In the sight of the fans, Xu Yong jumped into the air directly over Price's face, and smashed the ball into the basket with one hand through the opponent!
The University of Phoenix stadium exploded instantly.

What a violent style of play!
On the bench beside the court, Cajon couldn't help coughing with empty fists.

Now Ma Wei slapped him directly on the face.

For the Huskies' offense, Thabeet was more determined to get the ball in the low post.

As the player with the highest status and seniority in the team, and also the player who suffocated the most in this game, it is too embarrassing to be cut off at the beginning.

Price continued to feed the ball in. This time Thabeet observed Xu Yong's flanking attack after holding the ball, and quickly completed the shot before Xu Yong's flanking attack.

It's just that his handwork is really bad, and Chi Chi's board hits out of the frame!
Fortunately, he is good enough and long enough to grab the rebound in his arms and continue to make hook shots.

Although Ailes was right under him, the height difference made him feel like the other side was air.

Oh no, it is the distance of more than 70 centimeters between him and the basket, which belongs to his personal and exclusive dessert area.

If you don't score once, you will play the second time. If you don't score again, there will be third and fourth. It's just a few more times!

He thought so, but the moment he shot, someone directly broke into his exclusive area.

"boom!"

Before he could react, a blow to his head and face was already called out.

Slow, too slow!
During the Olympics last year, Xu Yong trained with Yao Ming in the national team, and played offense and defense with Yao Ming's main team as a substitute.

Even Yao Ming, who has gained weight and suffered from leg injuries, is much faster than Thabeet in terms of speed.

This is the gap in pure talent.

No wonder this guy didn't play anything in the NBA. With this speed and that buttery hand, he can't play in the NBA at all!
In the fight for the floor ball, Cooksix grabbed the ball and threw it to Harden.

The Devils played a fast break again, this time DeRozan followed up with the ball and flew to the basket to score two points.

0:4.

The devil team's opening performance, if the full score is [-], they can score at least [-] points.

The live camera quickly cut to Cajon.

The Devils played very well in the opening game. If the Huskies really want to continue to play such a low position, it is very likely that the opening game will be lost.

In the shot, Cajon stood up and made a new tactical gesture to Price.

As a living fossil-level coach, Calhoun's reaction speed is not too slow.

After the Huskies advanced to the frontcourt, Price held the ball and played a pick-and-roll with Thabeet on the strong side.

This ball is very reflective of Thabeet's body, and Harden is basically blocked and unable to move.

And Thabeet's sense of dismantling the ball is also very good, quickly cutting to the basket.

Price quickly fed the ball, and Thabeet chose to take an early shot after seeing Xu Yong coming to help defend again.

This choice was fine, but everyone was stunned for a second.

Because after the shot...the basket and the backboard didn't even touch, and they went directly across the bridge!

As soon as Xu Yong stretched out his hand, he got a steal inexplicably.

The Arizona fans in the stands had fun.

Those scouts also looked at it in contemplation.

In the opening three attacks, one was intercepted, one was blocked, and one crossed the bridge.

It can't be said that Thabeet's offensive ability is not good, it is simply not there!
This also made them have to doubt the possibility of Thabeet becoming the No. [-] pick. After all, Thabeet is also a junior player.

At this time on the field, Harden, who completed a fast break dunk after receiving a pass from Xu Yong, pointed to Xu Yong with a smile.

What Xu Yong said last night was a bit wrong. Thabeet's offensive technique, saying that it was toilet paper worth one yuan, was disrespectful to toilet paper!

　Tonight's eggplant is thick and long, is there any ticket reward?

　　
　
(End of this chapter)