socalfunplaces I couldn't get Chapter 21 in the first two years, but this is the third year, so I'm sure
I couldn't get Chapter 21 in the first two years, but this is the third year, so I'm sure
"Ding! New notification: You have obtained 14 Score Version Hexagonal Fragments!"
"Ding! You have obtained the Assist Version Hexagonal Fragment 4!"
"Ding! Acquired Support Version Hexagonal Fragment 5!"
"Ding! Obtained 3 Hexagonal Shards (Rebound Version)!"
"Ding! You have obtained the second sealed hexagonal fragment!"
"Ding! Acquired Exclusive Hexagonal Fragment 3!"
……
After quickly glancing over the so-called visually appealing settlement process, Chen Dong focused his gaze on "Offensive Attributes: Off the Ball: 69 [81]", and mentally drew circles with satisfaction.
"I only need 1 more point in the off-ball attribute to have the [Off-Ball Rank B] skill."
Combined with my [Three-Point B-Rank] skill and [Speed B-Rank] talent, if I also increase the 66 attribute points to 70 points, I can upgrade it to the [Endurance B-Rank] talent.
My off-the-ball attack will see a qualitative improvement. With the support of the team's tactical system, my offensive threat can definitely rival Hamilton's. After all, I have a longer shooting range, better playmaking and assists, and stronger ball control. It's very likely that Hamilton is just my floor.
Exiting the page, Chen Dong was already looking forward to his next opponent, not only to test his own strength but also to use them as a whetstone: "To help me cultivate, to help me break through!"
Three days later, at Cameron Arena.
Wake Forest University faced their seventh opponent in the ACC regular season – Duke University's Blue Devils.
As Chen Dong and his team stepped into the arena, which was ranked the fourth best for college basketball by Sports Illustrated, they immediately felt the treatment of what was known as the most terrifying home court. A tsunami of boos swept over them with unstoppable force. The "Cameron Madmen," dressed in uniform blue jerseys, were showing their fanaticism for the Blue Devils and their hostility towards their rivals.
Wake Forest University's starting five are: center Rick Williams, power forward Chris Ellis, small forward Chen Dong, shooting guard Justin Gray, and point guard Chris Paul.
Finally, Chen Dong was back in the starting lineup. A man as outstanding as him shines like a dark firefly on the bench, so bright and so exceptional. Even head coach Proser couldn't suppress Chen Dong's brilliance. Well, mainly because he was fed up with that soft guy, Kerryviser. Every time they faced a strong, elite team, Wake Forest University had to come back from behind. Not only the coaching staff couldn't stand it, but the teammates were also dissatisfied.
Whose four years aren't four years? They also want to improve, they also want to achieve outstanding results on the NCAA stage. A teammate who drags you down, a teammate who repeatedly calls for playing time in critical situations—the choice is obvious!
Duke University fielded their usual starting lineup: center Shavri Randolph, power forward Sheldon Williams, small forward Lee Melchior, shooting guard JJ Redick, and point guard Daniel Ewing.
Beep—!
With the sound of a whistle, the game began.
In the jump ball, Shavri Randolph displayed the terrifying talent that once rivaled James, defeating Rick Williams to give Duke University possession of the ball on the first possession.
Duke University didn't try much. Daniel Ewing was about to find JJ Redick running when he saw a strange scene: Chris Paul didn't primarily guard Daniel Ewing, but instead actively guarded JJ Redick.
Boos filled the stands, a sign of the Blue Devils fans' dissatisfaction with Chris Paul. Paul and their star player JJ Reddy are bitter rivals, given that the two teams are only 90 minutes apart and both belong to the ACC league, making them practically mortal enemies in the same city.
In addition, during Jordan's training camp in 04, Redick and Paul had an unpleasant conflict, and the two even got into a physical fight.
Paul, playing point guard, is now actively guarding shooting guard Redick – that's provocation!!!
"Let's see how Daniel Ewing handles this?"
JJ Redick couldn't shake off the quick Chris Paul for the time being. He called a pick-and-roll, and with Randolph's screen, he drove in, passed the ball out, Randolph received it, and took a shot...
Swish-!
The knife falls, the ball goes in.
Although Shavlik Randolph's development did not meet expectations, he was still a super scorer in high school who rivaled LeBron James as the vice GOAT, and he occasionally shone.
"We didn't make it in the first two years, but this is the third year, so we're sure we'll be able to make it."
A top-ten high school prodigy in 03, his talent speaks for itself!!! Believe it or not.” Off the court, Coach K smiled, everything was under his control.
0 to 2!!
Cheers immediately erupted inside the stadium.
Turning back, Paul and Chen Dong executed a perimeter passing and cutting play in the frontcourt.
"What the hell?"
Chris Paul switching to defend JJ Redick was already bizarre, but then Paul switched to off-ball offense during the attack – what kind of crazy move is that?! The commentator, Blake Green, had barely finished speaking when he immediately exclaimed, his eyes wide, "Chen Dong pulled up, facing a mismatch with Daniel Ewing's block, and launched an unreasonable three-point pull-up jumper! That was too reckless! Wait, it actually went in…!"
Swish-!
With a swift stroke, Chen Dong and Paul high-fived in celebration, then immediately threw themselves into defense.
"Well done!" Prosser excitedly pumped his fist.
That pull-up three-pointer came at just the right time. Chen Dong's offensive threat drew Duke's defensive attention as much as possible, which meant... "Chris, as the shooting guard, would have more space to attack!"
3 to 2!!
The game continued. In contrast to Wake Forest University's unconventional approach, Duke University chose to execute Coach K's tactics on offense, and their players on the court were like cold machines.
When Daniel Ewing dribbled to the top of the arc, JJ Redick cut into the basket from the right side. He first used Shafker Randolph's screen to get a body length away from Chris Paul, and then used Sheldon Williams' body screen to successfully create a two-and-a-half-body length gap between Chris Paul and Paul.
Seeing such an opportunity, Yu Yin decisively served the ball, but the moment he pushed it out with both hands, he immediately regretted it.
Snapped--!
Chen Dong successfully predicted the move and accurately stole the basketball.
A chance to fight back against zero!
Chen Dong didn't waste any more time. With a simple layup, he swished the ball steadily into the basket.
5 to 2!!
Coach K's tactics have been thoroughly analyzed!!!
His tactical system was too mechanical, practically an open secret, and Wake Forest University had countered it, which wasn't surprising. "It's just that Wake Forest University's offensive and defensive efficiency is too high!" commentator Leonard Parker remarked.
How tall is it?
It's at least three or four stories high.
At the start of the game, Wake Forest University took the initiative, while Duke University found itself on the back foot.
In the frontcourt, Daniel Ewing became hesitant in handling the ball, while JJ Redick, Duke's leading scorer, couldn't even receive the ball.
Although he could use screens to shake off Chris Paul's defense, he couldn't stop Wake Forest University from cutting off point guard Ewing's passing lanes.
That said, Daniel Ewing was able to become the starting point guard not because of his outstanding playmaking talent, but because his senior Chris Duhon brought his offensive talent to the NBA in the 04 draft. On the contrary, as a point guard who specializes in defense, playmaking is his weakness.
So he chose to take the familiar path, continuing to play along with Randolph and continue the pick-and-roll tactic.
"pretty!
After Daniel Ewing set a pick-and-roll, he drove and passed to Randolph, who was open. Randolph raised his hand and shot; the chance was very high…
Clang!
The shot went astray.
Duke University has lost too many top high school talents; Randolph is neither the first nor the last.
In Coach K's basketball philosophy, every player is just a "part" in his basketball system. The rough edges from high school will be smoothed out. The best players are those who fit the basketball machine, and the rest can be replaced with a new batch of players who don't fit the system.
Sheldon Williams was blocked by Rick Williams, and Chris Paul took the ball and immediately sped up the pace to play a run-and-gun offense.
Taking advantage of Chen Dong's wall pass, Paul successfully shook off Redick and drove to the frontcourt. Facing Daniel Ewing's switch defense, he faked a pass and drove in, easily shaking off the defender and breaking through to the basket for a simple layup, scoring two points.
Swish-!
"Wake Forest's offense was too easy."
Duke University's defenses were completely overwhelmed.
The game started, and Duke University, playing at home, was surprisingly slow to get going. They couldn't score on offense and couldn't defend...
7 to 2!!
Boos erupted from the stands again; the Blue Devils fans were clearly not satisfied with the current situation. They preferred to see Duke University crush their opponents, not be crushed themselves!
Seeing that the situation was unfavorable, JJ Redick did not continue to run off the ball and wait for the pass, but instead played a pass and cut on the outside with Daniel Ewing.
At this moment, Daniel Ewing is like Fisher, a tool, while JJ Redick is like Kobe.
Finally, he received the ball, and in front of JJ Redick, Justin Gray was now guarding him—oh wait, there was also Chris Paul.
"OMG!
They started with superstar treatment, with Wake Forest double-teaming JJ Redick. Redick passed the ball to Daniel Ewing, who drove to the basket. Chris Ellis immediately switched out to defend him. Daniel Ewing continued to pass the ball, and Wake Forest executed a switch-everything defense. Chen Dong switched to the basket, and Sheldon Williams received the ball and backed down the defender. This was a scoring opportunity for Duke University.
What the hell?
Chen Dong decisively circled around and stole the ball...
Beep—!
The whistle blew, and the referee called a defensive foul on Chen Dong.
Outside the stadium, the home fans booed again.
"The Blue Devils just want to play basketball, why is that so difficult?"
"When a clear mismatch opportunity finally arises, Wake Forest University is too cunning; they actually used a foul to interrupt it."
"Out-of-towners are so impolite."
Why is it so hard to score on just one offensive possession?
"..."
Off the court, Coach K stood on the sidelines, his face grim. Wake Forest University had completely taken control of the game's rhythm, and they had now completely shut down JJ Redick, their offensive powerhouse. All he could do was shout at the players on the court, "Don't rush, don't panic, let's focus on this play and get the first two points..." The rest was up to the players on the court to solve the problem themselves.
Duke University's sideline inbounds ball, Redick still can't catch the ball, Chris Paul's physical advantage is too obvious in addition to his constant dirty tricks, Daniel Ewing can only pass the ball to Sheldon Williams under the basket, shoots over Rick Williams' block, with a thud, Duke University's offense still can't open up the situation.
Chris Ellis, positioned as a guard, boxed out Shavlik Randolph. Chen Dong grabbed the rebound and immediately dribbled up the court for a fast break. Lee Melchior quickly closed in, but Chen Dong glanced at Paul charging towards the frontcourt, only to find...
Lower body!
Change direction!
Dribble!
He swept past Li Melchior in one stride and immediately sprinted forward at breakneck speed.
"Wake Forest University's counterattack has begun again."
With two superstar centers, Sheldon Williams and Shavley Randolph, on Duke University's roster, Wake Forest University can only weaken Duke's advantage with their twin towers of star centers by playing a fast-paced, run-and-gun style.
What the hell?
Chen Dong took an unreasonable pull-up three-pointer from a step away from the regular three-point line.
This is too reckless, oh my god, it went in again...
Why do we say "again"?
It doesn't matter anymore. With Chen Dong's three-pointer, the gap between the two sides has widened to 8 points.
Less than three minutes into the game, Wake Forest University went on a 10-2 run, forcing the game to be paused.
There was nothing they could do. Chen Dong made both of his three-point attempts and one of his fast break two-point attempts, bringing his total to 8 points and 1 rebound. Duke University could only try to limit Chen Dong's performance while also unleashing JJ Redick's offensive firepower.