So I am the god of basketball?

Chapter 37 Because North Carolina has Jordan, but Duke doesn’t

In the opening game of the regular season, Meng Lang's performance was amazing, with 37 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals.

When the news reached the University of Memphis, Hardaway immediately felt that the 23 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists he scored in his debut were no longer good;
  When Chris Webber learned the news, he immediately dragged the other four tigers into the gym and continued to practice;
  When Houston saw the statistics of Meng Lang's debut, he persuaded the head coach to find a video of the game. While watching him, he thought about whether he could do better. At four o'clock in the morning the next morning, he showed up. to the school gymnasium.

The answer to his reaction was self-evident.

They regarded Meng Lang as the "big devil", and now this "big devil" really performed like a "big devil" in the opening game of the new season.

For those who were aiming to cut off the nets, a sense of crisis instantly surged into their hearts, forcing them to work harder.

Meng Lang caused such a response among the top players in the NCAA, and naturally also attracted the attention of the head coaches of the other six ACC teams.

If there were coaches who had the same thoughts as the Tigers head coach before the opening game, then after this game, this mentality no longer exists.

Starting from the second game of the new season, the quality of defense Meng Lang encountered has improved significantly. The previous warm-up matches and the opening game cannot be compared with this. ——This has something to do with the fact that Meng Lang has more material to study, and it also has something to do with the fact that these teams have good defensive strongmen on the wings.

Although most of them have not reached the NBA level, they are definitely not comparable to the Tigers' "defending against thousands of people" wings.

Meng Lang failed to score 37 points or more in a single game.

这7场比赛，他场均可以贡献21.7分6.42篮板3.57助攻2.14抢断的数据。

The highest-scoring game scored 29 points, and the lowest-scoring game also scored 14 points.

Scored in double figures in all games.

In terms of efficiency, the average field goal percentage per game is 48.9% and the three-point field goal percentage is 45%.

The highest shooting percentage in one game was as high as 60%; the lowest one was only 38.9%, but it only happened once. In that game, his opponent frantically double-teamed him. As long as he got the ball, he would be double-teamed. Coupled with his poor condition, his shooting percentage was very difficult.

Duke won that game by 18 points. After the game, Meng Lang received comments from the opponent's head coach:
  That’s all!
  It has the meaning of "you can lose a team battle, but Teemo must die".

Meng Lang could always attract hatred.

In other games, even when faced with double-teams, he was able to stably contribute more than 45% of his field goals (including 3-pointers).

It is worth mentioning that Meng Lang's scoring average currently ranks first in the entire ACC, and he is the "scoring king" of the ACC.

After the fourth game of the season, during the interview before the start of each game, one point that the opponent's head coach will inevitably mention is: "We need to limit Meng Lang's shooting. Once he lets him shoot, we will be in trouble!"

It can be seen how impressive Meng Lang's current momentum on the offensive end is.

Therefore, even if he never contributes 37 points in a single game, his ranking in the draft prediction rankings of major media has continued to rise.

NBA scouts also believe that compared to the data in the warm-up games and the opening game, his data in the next seven games are more valuable for reference.

"ESPN"'s latest draft prediction ranked him with the 20th pick in the first round, five spots higher than before.

The predictions in the latest issue of "Sports Illustrated" magazine are similar. They ranked Meng Lang as the 17th pick in the first round.

In fact, the types of teams from the 15th pick to the 20th pick in the first round are similar.

They are all teams that are in the rebuilding period or have key weaknesses.

In addition, the positions of these picks are where talented players are taken away.

When teams at this stage make selections, they often pay more attention to immediate combat ability!

Meng Lang's biggest problem until now is that his dynamic talent is not very good. Even if his age is taken into account, his future physical fitness limit will be slightly above the average in the NBA.

It remains to be seen whether he can still shoot at such a level in the league with such physical fitness.

ESPN and Sports Illustrated are the two major media that are more optimistic about Meng Lang. The draft predictions given by other media are generally between the 20th and 25th picks in the first round.

That's already a big deal.

After all, it only took a few months for Meng Lang to become famous.

Originally, his name was not on this list at all, and the media did not even know he was such a person.

Compared to those players who have been under observation for three or four years, no matter how eye-catching he is, he still has more unknown risks. A larger stage is needed for more in-depth research. Just like March Madness.

It is also due to this particularity that almost all media outlets pointed out Meng Lang’s growth inertia in their comments after ranking him:
  "He won't be in this position for long. He's one of those rare players who plays with infectious energy. He'll gradually conquer all the doubters and we'll see his name in higher positions. It's no secret. There is no doubt that the premise is to continue the current performance!” ˆ ˆ ˆ In addition, when most media discuss Meng Lang, one aspect they often mention is:
  Basketball IQ!

This can be seen from Meng Lang's steal data.

He does not have strong frontal steals, nor does he have strong physical fitness to rely on, but he can contribute more than 2 steals in every game. Almost all interceptions are made with anticipation. This is enough to show his basketball IQ.

It's not just these aspects.

ESPN broadcast two Duke games. The commentator for one of the games was Trail Blazers legend Bill Walton. After watching Meng Lang's game, he said bluntly: "He is a very smart player." "In addition to his shooting, I was even more attracted by his decisive decisions on the court."

He was the 1977 Finals MVP and the 1978 regular season MVP.

It is not easy in itself to be recognized by Meng Lang for some of his spiritual moments on the court.

His endorsement was the key to ESPN raising Meng Lang's ranking in such a short period of time.

The rise in draft prices is recognition of Meng Lang's performance during this period.

But Meng Lang gained more than that.

There are more ambiguous looks.

There are women, there are men...

Now he has become the third man after Laettner and Hill to make Duke men, women and children want to play.

However, there is still a hurdle to overcome before he really becomes popular at Duke. ——Although Meng Lang doesn't care whether he can get more love from Duke fans. ——But the difficulty does exist.

That is:
  Defeat North Carolina!

Both are in North Carolina and are both ACC giants. North Carolina and Duke have had a long-standing conflict and have gradually become mortal enemies.

For fans of these two teams, defeating each other is second only to winning the national championship. Not even the ACC champions can compare to this.

Especially North Carolina this year is also very strong.

Now there are only two teams left in the ACC that have not lost, and they are:
  Duke and North Carolina.

While Duke has won consecutively and won the first 8 consecutive games, North Carolina has also been advancing all the way, and they are the horns of each other. The king cannot see the king, and they are harvesting victory after victory.

Any two teams that have won consecutive games and are undefeated in the new season meet at this time, it will attract attention.

Not to mention that one of these two teams is called North Carolina and the other is called Duke!

Even many players in the NBA were called by reporters to predict the results.

Of course, Michael Jordan is indispensable.

Being from North Carolina and rumored to have been kicked hard by Meng Lang, it was impossible for him to escape this prediction.

Jordan didn't hesitate this time. It was about the dispute between Duke and North Carolina. He was very sure: "Of course it's North Carolina! We have a better inside line, which is very important!"

A reporter suddenly reminded him: "In the 82 NCAA finals, North Carolina did not have a better inside line than Georgetown, but they finally cut off the opponent's net..."

"What do you want to say?" Jordan's eyes changed, he looked at the current reporter and asked meaningfully.

The reporter was also a veteran. Facing Jordan's aggressive gaze, his expression was somewhat evasive, but his response was not panicky: "I'm just stating the facts..."

"Then I can tell you, because North Carolina has Jordan, but Duke doesn't, it's as simple as that!" Jordan knew that this reporter just wanted to hear him say this, and he was also "succumbed". He just didn't believe it. What happened in the 82 NCAA finals will repeat itself...

This is really going to happen!
  Then I'll eat this table!

He set a flag fiercely in his heart.

Laettner did not escape this question. He first said hypocritically: "I love Duke and I hope they can win, but North Carolina's inside line is really..."

Halfway through, he stopped talking, but what he wanted to express was obviously expressed.

Then he cursed again in a voice that no one could hear:
  Duke, die for me!
  Now he just wants to see Meng Lang make a fool of himself, even if it involves Duke!
  (End of this chapter)