Volume 1: A rookie who breaks into the basketball world Chapter 26 The So-Called Genius
Matt Carroll and Travis Outlaw were speechless.
They no longer found this kind of talk strange.
When they first met, they thought that this classmate was not a good person.
But after a long time, I realized that he was just a bad-mouthed person.
Now I realize that it is more than just a loss to describe it.
There must be something wrong with this teammate.
But no matter what, the two of them are no longer so sensitive about Liu Xiu's words in this regard.
Others are different...
Most of these young and energetic college students dream of becoming professional players. When they are invited to play in NBA summer league teams, they feel that they are the chosen ones and have a promising future.
How can I not be angry when I hear this?
Pairs of hostile eyes looked at Liu Xiu.
This is what Liu Xiu wanted.
From Kevin Pritchard's words and the system's general ability evaluation of his teammates after everyone gathered, Liu Xiu learned that this batch of temporary teammates did not include any top NCAA players.
The Rocky Mountain Summer League is the only purely charitable summer league. All profits after deducting operating costs are donated to universities. College basketball players will not be unable to participate in NCAA competitions because of participating in this event.
However, this is not absolute. If something unexpected happens, it is possible that the NCAA will suddenly prohibit college basketball players who have participated in this summer league from continuing to play in NCAA games.
No NCAA team would allow their top players to participate.
Having played in the NCAA, Liu Xiu knew that universities had no shortage of functional players. If these people did not cooperate in the game, the team could simply replace them with a group of college players.
It is known that it is unlikely to achieve very good results in this summer league, so just ignore it and practice your abilities and accumulate more healing points.
Seeing the healing value suddenly increase by 291, Liu Xiu felt a little reluctant - "Remind these children to recognize themselves, I am a good person..."
…
…
The Trail Blazers' second summer league is about to begin. After all the players gathered, they began testing their physical conditions, skills, etc.
The 12 college basketball players were selected by the Trail Blazers' scouting department, and the Trail Blazers' coaching staff is already very familiar with all kinds of information about them.
Instead, the coaching staff is more concerned about whether the three rookies have made progress after playing five games in the summer league and resting for more than a week.
It’s not a long time, there’s no need for a leap forward... No one is expecting this.
After the Orlando Summer League, the three rookies received individual guidance from the coaching staff, who told them the areas that needed the most improvement that were exposed in the five games of the Orlando Summer League, with an emphasis on those that were easiest to change.
Travis Outlaw's test performance satisfied the coaching staff.
During the Orlando Summer League, Travis Outlaw always habitually tapped the ball when he cut in and received the ball, looking for an opportunity.
This habit doesn't have much impact most of the time in college and summer league.
But if you go to the NBA, the problem will be big.
When the coaching staff specially arranged several more sets of tests for Travis Outlaw to cut in and catch the ball and attack the basket, he clearly made adjustments. Although it can be seen that he is still not used to it, habits are not something that can be corrected in ten days or half a month. It is good that he has started to change in the right direction.
Matt Carroll has a soft touch, some passing ability, and decent ball control...but other than shooting, he is not good in other aspects, and this test is no exception.
Kevin Pritchard, who was in charge of testing three rookies, didn't have high expectations for an undrafted player, but was still a little disappointed to see that there was really no change.
After the tests on his two teammates were completed, Liu Xiu, who had exercised well, took a physical test.
He has decent speed, excellent strength, and outstanding flexibility... As a point guard of high tonnage, Liu Xiu's physical condition is actually quite excellent.
Kevin Plitt was very satisfied after looking at Liu Xiu's physical test report. Such physical condition meant that Liu Xiu would be able to adapt quickly in the NBA.
But otherwise…
Kevin Pritchard learned something - Liu Xiu went home to rest during the holiday and seemed to have never touched a basketball!
This matter was not difficult to find out. There was no court in the villa of Liu Xiu's uncle. He originally planned to use the garden to build a half court for Liu Xiu to train. It would not cost much to do it himself, but Liu Xiu refused.
So, if Liu Xiu wants to train, he can either go to Syracuse University or rent a gym by himself. As the 13th pick in the first round, this kind of thing must have made news in Syracuse, but Kevin Pritchard has not seen any relevant information at all.
Kevin Pritchard didn't have much expectations for Liu Xiu's technical skills and basic skills.
How can you make any progress if you are so lazy?
But soon, Kevin Plitt was checking Liu Xiu's technique and basic skills, and he felt a slapping sound on his face.
Liu Xiu's techniques and basic skills have improved significantly compared to the first test on July 5th half a month ago!
Head coach Maurice Cheeks also came to watch Liu Xiu's test. Kevin Pritchard analyzed it and said to Maurice Cheeks: "Boss, Jace's improvement is about the same as the average talented player's improvement after two to three weeks of hard training."
In Kevin Plitt's view, this is simply incredible: "He is so lazy and doesn't train, how can he make such great progress?"
Maurice Cheeks was not too surprised and responded, "The earliest information we got was that he didn't like to practice, but we didn't know the details. I asked someone to investigate a few days ago. He was like this in college and never practiced. But since he joined the Orange, he has been improving. After one year, he has the highest draft expectation of the middle of the first round."
Kevin Pritchard's eyes almost popped out of his head. It was a little unbelievable.
But considering the current situation, this is the actual situation!
After digesting the news, Kevin Pritchard suddenly had an idea and his emotion turned into regret: "Boss, what a pity!"
Maurice Cheeks was stunned for a moment, then reacted: "Yes, it's a pity. If he had started playing basketball earlier, he might have been the next Big Dream... But if that happened, we wouldn't have been able to select him."
Having said that, Kevin Pritchard still feels regretful.
Maurice Cheeks shook his head helplessly when he saw this. This colleague was good at everything, but sometimes he would fall into this kind of vicious circle of thinking.
It's just like when you get 8 Jinxes in the Spatula, and the 9th one spawns, but the countdown is up and the fight starts, and before you can synthesize it into three stars, your opponent is killed. You will feel regretful and entangled, but it will be fine after a few days.
Maurice Cheeks said, "Let him take one last test!"
This incident allowed Kevin Pritchard to refocus.
Although Liu Xiu's "true talent" was only realized now, Kevin Pritchard had already learned about the speed at which Liu Xiu learned a technique - Liu Xiu learned Randolph's post-up play.
Morris Cheeks called a college student over, and Liu Xiu was also called over.
Ivan Dixon, University of Utah Utes, 20 years old, 190 cm, 96 kg... Kevin Plitt checked the information of this temporary player. This was a college student they found specifically to help Liu Xiu practice back-to-the-basket shooting.
This is a really big guard. Most of the shooting guards and small forwards in the NBA are about this weight. Compared with Liu Xiu who is a little bloated, this one has real muscles and tendons, and is very good in flexibility and speed... but his IQ, EQ, basketball IQ are all off.
Since we want to test Liu Xiu's back-to-the-basket skills and help him train, we definitely cannot find a regular point guard.
If it was a regular point guard who was 180 to 190 cm tall and weighed just over 80 kg, Liu Xiu would have just pushed him hard.
In addition to being heavier than most point guards, Liu Xiu is also stronger than most people of the same weight.
This aspect is a talent.
But the defensive player cannot be too tall either, as height has a great suppressive effect on back-to-the-basket shots.
There are many requirements for sparring partners, but with the huge base of NCAA basketball players, there are a lot of players with superb physical fitness, including players with outstanding physical conditions. If you look carefully, you can find all types, but the vast majority of them are like Ivan Dixon, who were "sentenced to death" early on.
Ivan Dixon is big, has excellent athletic ability, and quick reactions... Just looking at his physical condition, he is a good material for defending back-to-the-basket attacks.
In the past two days, Maurice Cheeks also specifically taught Ivan Dixon the skills of defending back-to-the-basket. Not to mention that he has learned it, but he can already show how to do it.
In the eyes of Maurice Cheeks and Kevin Plittler, that should be about enough.
Although Liu Xiu learned Randolph's back-to-the-basket moves, he still basically relied on his weight and strength to force his opponent to play during the Orlando Summer League. He was just good at protecting the ball and finding shooting opportunities when doing so.
At Kevin Pritchard's signal, Liu Xiu and Ivan Dixon moved their bodies again and came to the left side of the three-second zone on the court. Liu Xiu leaned against Ivan Dixon, and Kevin Pritchard blew the whistle and passed the ball to Liu Xiu.
Liu Xiu received the ball, took a step closer, failed to push it, so he slapped the ball and picked it up, turned left with his left foot as the axis, Ivan Dixon moved half a step to the left. Liu Xiu did not turn around completely, but just turned his body sideways and immediately turned to the right. Ivan Dixon reacted very quickly, pushed his left foot on the floor, and returned to the original defensive position...but!
Liu Xiu just turned his upper body to the right! In other words, he just held the ball with both hands, and his shoulders moved to the right, while his waist and lower limbs were still facing the basket!
Ivan Dixon jumped back to his original position to the right. Liu Xiu moved his feet, using his left foot as the axis and his right foot crossed to the right side of the three-second zone. He turned around and made a layup... and it went in!
Maurice Cheeks and Kevin Plitt stretched their necks forward!
It was not surprising to the two that Liu Xiu was able to score by back-to-back shooting over Ivan Dixon's head.
But this is too easy!
The two saw that Liu Xiu's left turn, fake right turn, and cross-over were all very agile, showing his flexibility.
But when it came to the final shot, Liu Xiu moved very slowly... giving a feeling that everything was under his control!
Liu Xiu smiled when he shot. After scoring, he smiled gently and said to Ivan Dixon, "Come on, don't be discouraged. There will definitely be a time when you can defend me!"
Irwin Dixon exploded: "Come on! You're just lucky!"
As a physically fit man, although he has no basketball IQ or talent for learning techniques, he has been the strongest from the beginning of his basketball career to high school relying purely on his physical fitness. Although he had a very frustrating year in college and was just like everyone else , he just thought it was bad luck and he still felt that he was a genius.
"Healing value +39, from Ivan Dixon."
Liu Xiu smiled again.
Seeing Liu Xiu smile, Ivan Dixon became even angrier.
Maurice Cheeks and Kevin Pritchard felt differently from Ivan Dixon, and combined with their now "rediscovered" talent of Liu Xiu, it felt like seeing a handsome devil...
This college student is in such a pity! He might be ruined!
