Nie Chuan followed his teammates into the gymnasium's lounge, where everyone was changing jerseys and sorting their belongings.

"Are you nervous?" Carlo put his head close to Ewing.

Ewing's expression was much calmer than Nie Chuan imagined. Before important games, he would always shake his legs or crack his fingers in the car, but today, Ewing was either thinking with his eyes closed or listening to music.

"I'm not nervous." Ewing clenched his fist and hit Carlo. "We have come this far and created a record that our predecessors have not achieved in the past decade... I just feel that we are only one step away from making history. I have to go all out, otherwise I will not be resigned."

Nie Chuan's heart seemed to be moved by Ewing's words, and Carlo was also slightly startled.

"You always said you were one of the top three shooters in the league, but I always thought you were number one," Carlo said.

Ewing smiled and lowered his head to adjust his wrist guard, just like a soldier wiping his blade before going to the battlefield.

Carlo was dissatisfied and said, "Shouldn't you say at this time, 'I also think you are the number one power forward in the league'?"

Ewing reached out and flicked Carlo's forehead: "When this game is over, it will become a fact."

Carlo laughed too.

When they left the tunnel and walked into the stadium, the deafening cheers made Nie Chuan's blood boil.

In the past, Nie Chuan didn't understand where this enthusiasm came from. In his opinion, no matter how exciting a basketball game was, it was just a game.

All wonderful moments will pass, and even the most amazing history will be covered by new surprises.

But as he walked step by step to the present moment, he seemed to have also merged into this craze.

Most importantly, he knew that he was one of the creators of this madness.

The basketball court is so spacious and bright, as if it extends infinitely to accommodate the entire world, encompassing everything and presenting infinite possibilities.

Nie Chuan raised his eyes and saw Azu's team members and coach opposite them.

Ben Robbins was stretching, and when he turned his head and saw Nie Chuan, he smiled widely.

And Seton also turned sideways to look in the direction of DK, and the smile on his lips was exactly the same as in the previous game against UFR.

The commentators could no longer contain their excitement.

Robert said, "Oh my god! The much-anticipated battle is finally here! To be honest, I expected Azu to make it to the finals, but I really didn't expect their opponent to be UDK!"

"Yes, many sports magazines and special issues believe that DK has the strength to enter the elite eight, but this final decisive battle really exceeded many people's expectations! Just watching DK along the way and witnessing its growth, I suddenly feel that such a result is both unexpected and reasonable!" Engel commented.

"Am I the only one who firmly believes that DK will make it to the finals? Imagine the combination of Seth Lind and Ben Robbins. If there is anyone who can compete with them, the only ones I can think of are DK's Reese and Nie Chuan!"

"Hahaha, if it was in the past, you told me that this unknown black-haired kid might be able to compete with Seton Lind, who is known as the league's number one point guard, I would have thought you were crazy. Of course, even now, I think Nie Chuan still lacks something compared to Seton, but I just can't help but think that he can rival Seton, and I can't even give a reason!" Robert shook his head with amusement.

"It's the expectation for his growth. When he replaced Reese as the small forward against KSU, we thought that this kid was no match for Raven Harvey and DK would stop there, but he scored more than 20 points from Raven. When DK faced CBU, we thought that we had to rely on Reese to block Owen, but Nie Chuan once again proved his defensive and scoring abilities under the basket. So this makes me want to know what kind of surprises Nie Chuan will bring when facing Seth Lind, who is also a point guard, and whether his partnership with Reese can restrain the linkage between Ben Robbins and Seth Lind." Engel said.

"Not only that, if we want to win this game, it is not enough to rely on the ability of one or two people. With the same technical expertise, can Ewing let go and ensure DK's perimeter when facing Ben Robbins, who is far more famous than himself? Can Carlo Brandon match AZU's power forward Edgar? You know, Edgar is the power forward with the highest rebounds and points since the start of the finals! And AZU's Bracey, as a small forward, does he have the courage and cutting ability of Reece Reddington?" Espenson made a comparison.

"Don't forget the competition between the centers The Rock and Black Mountain. Although Black Mountain is much more low-key than The Rock, anyone with a discerning eye can see that DK can get to this point, and Black Mountain's defense under the basket has played an indispensable role. The Rock is the leading center in the finals, and his explosiveness and scoring ability are first-class. The collision of the two powerful centers is also very interesting. In addition, the head coaches of the two teams, Coach Gordon and Coach Short, known as the 'Great Shark', how they will analyze the situation and bring out the highest level of their players is also something that people are looking forward to!"

Ben leaned his head towards Sethston: "What are you looking at?"

"Of course I'm looking at our opponents. Ben, your premonitions are always right. Do you think we will still be the champions this year?" Seton asked with a smile.

"Of course it's us," Ben replied confidently, "and I think I can get twenty-one points!"

"Twenty-one points?" Seton narrowed his eyes. "I thought you would confidently say that you could get thirty points."

"Hey, I'm not that arrogant or underestimate my opponent." Ben put away his childish smile and looked at Reese. "Reese is the only one in the entire UDK who can catch up with your speed. If Reese keeps an eye on you, my chances of getting the ball will be much smaller. In terms of ball control and steals, I'm no match for Nie Chuan, that's a fact."

Seton chuckled. "What about Nie Chuan? Do you think he's my match? He's the guy who fought against Raven Harvey and passed Owen Whishaw many times."

Benban tilted his head back and did not answer.

"It seems that you really think highly of Nie Chuan." Seton's eyebrows slightly raised.

"Actually... you know it very well, don't you?" Ben asked back, looking into Seton's eyes.

"Clear what?"

"Know that if he passes you once, or if he steals the ball from you once, it's going to happen a second time, a third time. Let him get a feel for how to get out of your rhythm, and he'll get better and better. It was the same thing against Raven Harvey, it was the same thing against Erne Whishaw."

"So, I must suppress him and smash his self-confidence to the bottom, so that he can't raise his head and never give him any 'inspiration'." Seton's eyes turned cold.

At this time, Coach Gordon was also giving pre-match guidance to the players.

"Up to this point, I am 100% satisfied with the performance of each of you. Although many people are looking forward to our victory, this is not the NBA. In addition to fame, fortune and glory, I hope that you will enjoy everything on the court, every shot and every heart-breaking moment. The cooperation between Seth Lind and Ben Robbins is quite famous in the league, so Nie Chuan, this will be a very special game for you. Go face to face to experience Seth Lind's way of controlling the ball, his rhythm changes, his steals, his cuts, and how he connects everyone on the team. He will be your best teacher and the best role model. I believe that he is not an insurmountable mountain for you, but your stepping stone."

Coach Gordon looked straight at Nie Chuan, which was something Nie Chuan had never expected.

In everyone's subconscious, the person who should keep an eye on Seton should be Reese, not Nie Chuan.

But Coach Gordon said that Seton was a stepping stone for Nie Chuan, which Nie Chuan had never thought of. Coach Gordon would not make comments that exceeded the players' level and strength for the sake of their self-confidence, because when unrealistic praise is shattered by reality, it will also hurt the players' self-esteem exponentially. But Coach Gordon's words clearly meant that Nie Chuan's potential far exceeded Seton's.

This made Nie Chuan's fingertips feel inexplicably hot.

"Ewing, maybe you are not the best shooter in the entire finals. Owen Whishaw and Ben Robbins are rated higher than you. But you are the best of our DK. We can't rely on anyone for outside scoring but you. For us, it doesn't matter whether the outside world thinks you can surpass Ben Robbins, because you are unique." Coach Gordon seemed to understand how much pressure Ewing was under as he was always compared with Owen Whishaw and Ben Robbins. "I don't need you to dance with shackles. I just hope you enjoy this game. When everything is over, when you look back on it, you will feel happy, not stressed."

"Yes, coach." Ewing nodded.

"Montenegro, I know how much you love basketball and how much you want to be recognized by NBA scouts. But you restrained your desire to show off and became the strongest backing for our DK. Today, I hope you can let go a little, do whatever you want, and let those scouts see how good you are!"

Montenegro was slightly startled, then smiled: “Yes, coach!”

"Carlo, because of Reese, your scoring and defensive abilities as a power forward have been underestimated. Today, don't think too much and show it to everyone. Reese is not the only scoring ace of our DK."

Carlo smiled and punched Reese on the shoulder: "Hey, it seems that Coach Gordon really wants me to steal your limelight!"

"Reese, you've given me a lot of surprises this year." Coach Gordon raised his hand and patted Reese's shoulder. "You used to be like a sharp blade without a scabbard, with your edge exposed. But since Nie Chuan joined us, you've changed a lot. You know how to cooperate with others, and you know how to get more opportunities from your teammates. This is what I'm most grateful to Nie Chuan for. He has given you a broader perspective."

"So today, can I do whatever I want?" Reese asked back.

"All freedom is relative." Coach Gordon placed his hand on Reese's chest. "Deep down in your heart, you know exactly what you want."

Everyone looked in Reese's direction.

The game is about to start and everyone goes on stage.

Every step was extremely solemn for Nie Chuan. He had never been under such bright lights before, and even the beating of his heart seemed to have a special meaning.

He lowered his center of gravity and was ready to move at any time.

Black Mountain and the Boulder stood at the center line. Black Mountain had jumped the ball countless times, but the moment he jumped, Nie Chuan saw the explosive power that broke through his vision.

His roar seemed to rupture the eardrums, and his arm flashed in the air, knocking the ball down!

Nie Chuan moved quickly and scored the ball before the opponent's small forward Bracey could move.

When Nie Chuan turned around, he heard the sound of his sneakers rubbing against the ground. Deep in his mind was the scene when DK and CBU were playing against each other, and Owen stole the ball when he turned around with the ball. He would not make the same mistake again!

Nie Chuan made a quick sideways change of direction, avoiding the opponent's stealing ball, turned around and shook his shoulders neatly, passing by the opponent's side like lightning.

At that moment, Nie Chuan realized that the guy approaching him was actually Seton!

Nie Chuan's heart was in a trance, he knew that just doing this was not enough to get rid of the fastest point guard.

Sure enough, just as Nie Chuan started to speed up, Seton had already caught up to his side. Nie Chuan made an emergency stop and tried to shake off Seton, but the other party slid and blocked Nie Chuan.

There was a faint smile on Seton's lips, and his gaze did not give a sense of oppression, but Nie Chuan had the illusion that he had been locked in and could not escape.

Nie Chuan knew that if he forced his way forward, he would be intercepted by Seton. Nie Chuan decisively wanted to pass the ball to the back, but Carlo who came to meet the ball was instantly blocked by the opponent's power forward Edgar. At this time, Reese arrived, and the emotions of the audience were aroused. Nie Chuan made a sideways pass to the back, and just as his hand pushed back, Seton suddenly pounced forward, his back stretched out with extremely tense lines, and his body seemed to pass under Nie Chuan's arm. His fingertips obviously hit Nie Chuan's ball, completely changing the passing angle!

At this time, Azu's small forward Bracey came and stole the ball. Reese instantly adjusted direction and followed Bracey. The two of them were extremely fast.

Bracey broke through Ewing's defense, and Reese easily broke through Ben's obstruction. The two rushed all the way to the basket. Bracey stopped suddenly and passed the ball backwards, and Ben was there!

Everyone's heart was in their throat, wondering if Ben Robbins would be the one to score the first goal and the first three-pointer of the game.

Ben was ready to catch the ball, and the moment he raised his hand, a figure caught up with him from behind and jumped up desperately. Ben opened his eyes wide and watched the ball being knocked down without him even having a chance to touch it.

The audience roared.

It was Nie Chuan, who successfully blocked Ben's first three-pointer!

Ben blinked and caught up with Nie Chuan, but Nie Chuan was too fast and the distance between them was soon widened.

"Nie Chuan's speed seems to be even faster than when he was fighting against CBU!" Engel exclaimed.

Robert smiled and said, "It's not that he's faster, but that he dribbles more smoothly. Whether it's shifting the center of gravity while dribbling or suddenly changing the direction, he can do it with ease!"

Espenson also smiled: "I really want to see his one-on-one match with Seth Lind."

At this moment, someone ran side by side with Nie Chuan. With such a sharp speed, Nie Chuan knew it was not Reese.

Just as Nie Chuan was about to switch the ball from his right hand to his left hand, Seton suddenly sped up and stretched out his arm. Nie Chuan knew that this guy could keep his body balance and steal the ball during high-speed movement. It was too late to change direction at this time. Nie Chuan had to raise his shoulders and touch the ground hard, hoping to avoid Seton's hand.

But Seton was simply a monster. He adjusted his center of gravity in an instant, moved forward where Nie Chuan touched the ground, stretched out his other arm, and fiercely hooked the ball back.

Nie Chuan's nerves were about to break. For the first time, he felt that no matter how hard he tried, he could not escape Seton's control.

Seton's smile flashed across Nie Chuan's eyes. This guy just regarded Nie Chuan as an interesting guy, not a real opponent.

The ball was taken away by Seton. His speed could be described as sweeping away everything in its path. In the blink of an eye, he passed Ewing. A fake move so fast that it almost made people fall flashed past Carlo's side and went straight to the basket. Montenegro jumped up, blocking his layup path. He just smiled indifferently and passed the ball to power forward Edgar in mid-air.

Carlo rushed to defend Edgar, but Edgar had already shot and jumped for a dunk.

But Reese came and smashed the ball directly to Edgar. The power and momentum of this jump made Edgar's pupils tremble. He took back the ball and passed it back to Seton on the side.

Seton received the ball and jumped calmly to shoot. At this time, Carlo rushed over and moved from the right side of the basket to the left side. Carlo's speed and sensitivity were astonishing.

However, Seton's shot was just a fake, as he retrieved the ball, passed by Carlo and jumped for a layup.

When the ball was about to reach the same height as the basket, Seton was stunned. Nie Chuan didn't know when to return to defense and jumped high.

Seton's eyes widened at that moment. He had observed Nie Chuan's games many times and knew that this guy's jumping ability in critical moments was no less than that of a first-class small forward, but it was a different feeling when he actually experienced it himself.

Seton got the ball back and it would have been a beautiful pull-up layup.

Nie Chuan gritted his teeth, twisted his body in mid-air, and blocked Seton's next layup.

But Seton was very patient and did not make a move. He knew very well how long Nie Chuan could stay in the air, and he was waiting for the moment when the opportunity came!

Sure enough, when Nie Chuan's body fell, Seton decisively used the power of his fingertips to send the ball through Nie Chuan's armpit and into the basket!

Originally, Nie Chuan's aerial interception had already made the audience scream with excitement, but Seton's aerial change of direction was even better!

Did the first goal belong to Azu?

"boom--"

Someone swung his arm neatly and dunked Seton's ball.

"Oh——" the audience exclaimed!

Even the commentators craned their necks.

"my God……"

"It's Reese! It's Reese!"

"so amazing!"

Reese landed and ran up with the ball: "Nie Chuan!"

The moment Nie Chuan landed, he followed closely.

DK launched a wave of fast breaks.

The audience was shouting wildly, and they only saw Reese rushing towards Azu's basket as if he was going to cut through the air.

Seton followed closely behind them, while the other members of Azu fought hard to defend.

Nie Chuan turned around suddenly and stood in front of Seton. Seton shook his shoulders quickly, and no matter how fast Nie Chuan reacted, he couldn't catch up. Seton passed Nie Chuan, but in just a moment of interference, Reese had successfully rushed to Azu's basket!

Center The Rock competed with Reese, but Reese jumped calmly. His posture was full of bouncing power. His arm passed through the side of The Rock's raised arm and sent the ball diagonally into the basket with the power of his fingers!

Nie Chuan exhaled.

There was constant applause on the field, and Reese turned around and high-fived Nie Chuan.

Seton squinted his eyes and looked at them. Ben walked up to Seton and said coldly, "Hey, they really have a good understanding of each other... I haven't even had time to successfully catch a single pass from you!"

"It doesn't matter. I will make Nie Chuan cry." Seton raised the corners of his lips.

Robert gave a very high evaluation of this shot: "In my opinion, Reese's shot was very valuable. Not only because of his speed and scoring skills under the basket, but also because of his cooperation with Nie Chuan, who slowed down Seton's speed. Also, under DK's basket, Carlo and Montenegro's defense fully reflected the technical characteristics of the entire team."

Engel and Espenson agreed.

In the stands, Larven and Owen sat side by side.

Larven clapped along with the audience, smiling widely, "It's worth it that we practiced with them for so long."

Owen's brows furrowed: "But I'm a little worried."

"worry about what?"

"Of course I'm worried that Seton will attack Nie Chuan."

"Oh no?"

"What I'm talking about is not fouling, but showing off one's strength in the shortest possible time to put psychological pressure on Nie Chuan and make him collapse."

"...No way. If it was the previous Nie Chuan, maybe it could be possible, but after going through so many strong teams in the finals, and going all the way... Nie Chuan can't be that fragile."

"Probably. Because I also wanted to do that to Nie Chuan, but I didn't do it with enough hatred."

After hearing what Owen said, Larven also fell silent.

Then, Owen smiled again: "What are we worrying about? No matter what happens, Reese will protect Nie Chuan."

"How to protect?" Larven asked back.

"Let him know that he is more powerful than Biston, so there is no need to be cowardly, just keep growing."