Volume 1: A rookie who breaks into the basketball world Chapter 34: Of course I have to win the championship!
As the Trail Blazers' dominance gradually became apparent, the game took an interesting direction - a bloody fight!
Pat Riley's Iron Storm is not pleasing, but it is indeed a simple and powerful style of play.
Fouls, rough actions, testing the limits of flagrant fouls...these are all part of the execution strategy of the iron-blooded foul style.
As the game progressed, Matt Barnes found that they were becoming more and more passive, so he decisively pulled Kaman to lead the team to intensify the confrontation.
Kaman is stronger, but he has no opinion of his own and always plays according to the coach's arrangements; Barnes, on the other hand, is an average player, but his leadership on the defensive end is outstanding.
At the end of the first half, the Clippers trailed the Trail Blazers by 5 points at 28 to 33. After the start of the second half, Barnes led the team to play defense and scored a 7 to 4 wave in more than 5 minutes!
In this situation, there is only one way out - rely on personal ability to break the deadlock!
To deal with an opponent who plays with an iron-blooded style, relying on personal ability is the simplest and most effective way.
Liu Xiu did not hesitate. At 5 minutes and 19 seconds in the third quarter, the Trail Blazers attacked. His teammates some moved away, some prepared to cut in, some kept on receiving the ball... Liu Xiu landed in the low post on the left side of the three-second zone and backed down the Clippers' college point guard!
This point guard named Jack Jane is 190 cm tall but weighs only 84 kg.
Liu Xiu took a strong step, turned right and walked to the baseline, and made a layup before Kaman could get in position to defend!
Kaman responded quickly and started promptly.
But no one expected that Liu Xiu could knock Jack Jane back to the arc of the reasonable collision zone in just one step.
39 to 35, when the score was about to be tied, Liu Xiu made a low-post back-to-the-basket shot to widen the gap again!
Since the Clippers have a center like Kaman under the basket, Liu Xiu did not have any low-post back-to-the-basket plays tonight.
Obviously, organizing the team's offense is a better choice than going to the low post to challenge Kaman's defense.
There are other ways to score, and if you are sure that you have an advantage, then saving the low-post back-to-the-basket for the critical moment is also a good choice...
When the Clippers attacked, Kaman stood up!
Although after he entered the NBA, he wanted to become a defense-based center based on the advice of Mike Dunleavy, his agent and others before the start of the summer league, but in high school and college, he was also a super center who swept a place.
Kaman made a beautiful mid-range turn and a flying layup in the three-second zone!
In the beginning, Kaman had been catching the ball and shooting, cutting in to shoot, and playing defense...giving the Trail Blazers' inside players an illusion - that he was a defensive center.
Only now do I remember that this was the talented center who was known as the strongest inside player in the 2003 draft!
A technically excellent center... This kind of player may not be able to lead the team to achieve much success in the summer league, but! That sense of dominance is terrifying.
Liu Xiu blew a whistle and asked for the ball to be advanced.
Seeing that Liu Xiu was not panicking, the teammates who had already regarded Liu Xiu as their backbone calmed down.
Liu Xiu knew that he had to make another move at this time, so he went to the frontcourt and passed the ball to Travis Outlaw at the top of the arc, who continued to back up in the low post!
Jack Jane still couldn't defend, and Liu Xiu easily moved one step forward with a back-to-the-basket move. Just when he was about to continue his move, Liu Xiu saw the movement of the opponent's player... He decisively sped up, turned left, walked to the middle, took a step while turning, and when he finished turning and faced the basket, he grabbed the ball and stepped forward!
Liu Xiu took two steps towards the right side of the three-second zone from a little inside the left sideline of the three-second zone. Following his feeling, he took off with the third step. When his body was above the right sideline of the three-second zone, he threw the ball to the backboard...
At this time, Kaman was in the air, but his position was on the left side of the basket, while Barnes was squeezed together with Jack Jane in the reasonable collision area!
Seeing Liu Xiu throwing the ball with his back to the basket, the three Clippers players were hoping that it wouldn't go in... However, their expectations were dashed!
Liu Xiu made a shot off the backboard in a one-on-three situation! And it was a shot off the backboard in the style of looking back at the moon!
This ball doesn't have much explosive power, it just requires flexibility, judgment of timing, bold choices, and a gamble on touch... but it is quite entertaining!
41 to 37, the difference is 4 points again!
Finally, the female fans who came to support Liu Xiu saw a handsome goal!
The two major NBA rookies became the background, and the Clippers still had to attack.
Kaman wanted to return the ball, but this time the Trail Blazers were prepared. It was a very simple defense. Liu Xiu asked his teammates to move inside when Kaman received the ball!
Kaman passed the ball, but unfortunately, Barnes not only missed the shot, but also almost missed the three-pointer. The ball hit the right edge of the basket and bounced directly to the floor at 90 degrees. Travis Outlaw protected the defensive rebound and pushed forward himself!
Liu Xiu did not force the ball, but stayed in a position to receive the ball. He was already very familiar with Travis Outlaw's passing ability.
The Clippers played iron-blooded defense and did a good job in chasing. Travis Outlaw was blocked on the left side of the free throw line. He saw Liu Xiu running to the right corner and immediately passed the ball to him.
As soon as Liu Xiu received the ball, Barnes, who was chasing him, immediately jumped into position.
Liu Xiu grabbed the ball and raised his hand. Barnes didn't jump. He had a good defensive awareness and was not easily fooled by the height difference of more than ten centimeters.
Liu Xiu just tried it, but failed to shake off the opponent and launch a quick attack, so he continued to fight in a positional battle.
Travis Outlaw once again stretched out to the top arc and helped Liu Xiu serve the ball in the low post.
It’s true that the Clippers used an iron-blooded tactic, but they were just a group of college students who got together temporarily. They were good when they played well, but the attack from the low post... was too advanced for them!
Liu Xiu made a back-to-the-basket lob, Travis Outlaw received the ball and passed it again, and Matt Carroll on the wing received the ball and made a three-pointer!
44 to 37, the difference is 7 points!
The game has reached this point, and the Clippers are really helpless!
Barnes didn't expect that their iron-blooded style of play was broken twice!
It was okay last time, because Liu Xiu used team play, and the trio he formed with Travis Outlaw and Matt Carroll was really powerful.
This time, Liu Xiu actually relied on his own strength to force the situation open!
Liu Xiu is not famous for his basketball skills, but famous for his flirting. Most of the news about him that players see is about Anne Hathaway and playing college. His low post is the best among the current rookies, but he is really not that famous...
Barnes still wanted to struggle - he went to defend Liu Xiu and used rough fouls to affect Liu Xiu.
But as soon as he went up and roughly blocked the position, the referee called a foul!
The referee is decisive and the attitude is firm.
The referee almost said it directly - you can play high-confrontation defense, but playing tricks and using small moves to create conflict are not allowed.
Summer league is very suitable for iron-blooded defense, with each player committing 10 fouls.
Matt Barnes played with the mentality of trying to win and get a contract even if it meant causing conflicts, and successfully won the appreciation of Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy.
But his idea did not succeed. The referee really did not give him any chance. In the current situation, Barnes had no choice.
The Iron Blood style is simple and easy to use, but the lower limit is really not high...
The Clippers kept the score close at the beginning and the two teams launched a counterattack, but both counterattacks were broken by Liu Xiu in various ways!
The Trail Blazers' final score...created a new low for the Trail Blazers in their two summer leagues this summer - 74 points in a single game.
Liu Xiu had 17 points and 6 assists, Travis Outlaw had 28 points, and Matt Carroll had 11 points. The three of them scored 56 points. The Trail Blazers did not have a fourth player scoring in double digits.
But they won! The Clippers only scored 65 points in the end!
74 to 65, the Trail Blazers defeated the Clippers and advanced to the top four of this Rocky Mountain Summer League!
The moment the final whistle sounded, Liu Xiu's system prompt came.
“Match Rating:
Minutes: 33.
Data: 7 of 12 shots, including 0 of 2 three-pointers, plus 3 of 4 free throws, 17 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, and 7 fouls.
Analysis: S.
Influence: S-…
Rating S-, basic reward +70%, congratulations to the host, healing value +136."
S-level rating!
The first time the overall review exceeded A+!
Although I just arrived at S-…
"Does this mean that I can now truly dominate the Summer League?"
Although a little excited, Liu Xiu quickly controlled his excitement and accepted the post-match interview with the court TV station.
"Long time no see, Jace, you looked so beautiful tonight."
The person who interviewed Liu Xiu was Su Qun, whom I had met many times. He was the first Chinese reporter to conduct on-site interviews after NBA and NCAA games.
Yes, the first player Su Qun interviewed after the NCAA game was not Liu Xiu.
Instead, it was an interview with Michael Olowokandi on February 9, 1998.
Liu Xiu accepted an official interview with the Imperial Court TV for the first time during the Crazy March this year. Afterwards, Liu Xiu couldn't find the news at all, which means that the interview was just to accumulate material and had no place to broadcast it.
Liu Xiu responded: "Thank you, I also like tonight's game."
Su Qun liked this way of answering.
After being weak for so many years, Chinese people have always been very humble, even inferior... When it comes to sports alone, China is already one of the top three sports powers in the world, but it is not as confident as the two North Koreas next door.
But Liu Xiu has always been very confident.
He is not arrogant, nor is he overbearing, but he will not deny that he has done something well.
Su Qun continued to ask: "Your performance has been getting better and better recently. Can you tell me how you did it?"
Liu Xiu likes the questions asked by reporters from the court TV station. After all, she is the central government, so she won’t ask about gossips. But the questions she asks may not seem a big deal to the people who watch the news, but the people being asked…
This is like .
I can indeed say something, but it is really painful to answer this question.
But I still have to answer! Central Bank!
"I think it's the support of the fans. I like to hear the fans screaming..."
Liu Xiu looked at the place where the largest number of female fans gathered - directly opposite the technical table.
The game is over. Although the stadium was not full tonight, after all, it was an NBA home stadium, the number of fans on site exceeded 10,000, and most of them left.
However, there are still hundreds of female fans who have not left.
As Liu Xiu spoke, he pointed a gun with his left hand and blew kisses to the fans, causing screams.
The cameraman thought Liu Xiu was going to do something, but the result was like this, speechless...
The interview ended like this. In fact, there wouldn't be much space given to Liu Xiu. It would be good enough if he could have a ten-second interview clip in the sports news of the court sports channel.
After Liu Xiu finished the interview, he saw Travis Outlaw, who scored the highest points tonight, being interviewed by the Colorado media... He felt good and quickly left.
Now that American reporters are interviewing him, it definitely has nothing to do with the game.
Now, American reporters are not interested in reporting on his games and just want to get more information.
He had achieved his desired goal, so he naturally would not "work" for those reporters for nothing.
…
On the 2nd, all four quarterfinal games of the Rocky Mountain Summer League finals were completed.
Before the Trail Blazers, the Spurs defeated the Suns to advance, and the Knicks defeated the Mavericks to advance.
At 7 o'clock in the evening, still at the Delta Airlines Arena in Salt Lake City, the Bulls, recognized as the strongest team in this summer league, started their game with the host Jazz.
The Jazz ranked only seventh in the preliminaries, but facing the Bulls who had won all four preliminaries games, the Jazz won unexpectedly!
Mo Williams, the point guard selected by the Jazz with the 18th pick in the second round, played for 35 minutes, made 15 of 21 shots, including 5 of 7 three-pointers, and scored 35 points and 8 assists without any free throws, leading the Jazz to an upset and advance to the semi-finals.
As for the Trail Blazers, after five games in this summer league, they have basically played against all types of teams.
The Lakers, whose core style is Luke Walton's steady and organized offense; the Suns, whose core is Barbosa, who is an offensive outside player; the 76ers and Pacers, whose strength is not that good; the Clippers, whose iron-blooded defense...
Now, after Liu Xiu showed dominance for the first time in the summer league... dominance that is not so easily noticed by others, he is confident that most opponents will find it difficult to cause them real trouble unless they are in very bad shape or their opponents are super gods.
He is now looking forward to the final against the Bulls.
But unexpectedly, they did not encounter the situation of poor condition or super-good opponents, but the Bulls did!
On August 4, the Trail Blazers faced the Spurs in the semi-finals.
The Spurs only had one first-round pick this year, and no other draft picks, but they signed four undrafted players, all from South America... and they all played well! One of them was a combo guard named Alex Garcia, who got a two-year, $990,000 partially guaranteed contract.
But no matter how well they played, Liu Xiu, Travis Outlaw and Matt Carroll have already played a dominant performance and are very confident and moving forward!
Having fought to this point, Liu Xiu and the others went on the field to win, to take the championship!
After 1 hour and 33 minutes of game time, with Liu Xiu scoring 11 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, Travis Outlaw scoring 17 points and Matt Carroll scoring 24 points, the Trail Blazers defeated the Spurs 93-82 and advanced to the finals!
