Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 438 - 145: Cost and Repayment, Awkward Perimeter Combination (5K - , Begging for Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets) _3
However, when Iverson declared himself the new GOAT, Qin Yue couldn’t help but give this Hall of Fame guard, who is likely only 178 centimeters tall, an appraising look.
The Warriors are embarking on an incredibly difficult title defense journey.
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers hope to regain their dominance as the top team in the East after going through a painful adjustment period.
After the warm-up, the starting players from both teams gradually took their positions at center court.
Cavaliers: Big Z, Gooden, James, Pavlovic, Iverson.
Warriors: Brown, Qin Yue, Barnes, Deng Liwei, Jack.
Richardson and Murphy, who were doubtful to play due to injuries, were not included in Ma Long’s lineup for this Christmas battle.
After the jump ball, the Warriors had possession.
In the first offensive round, seeing that the Cavaliers didn’t assign James to defend him, Qin Yue immediately lost interest.
On the right side of the court, Qin Yue held the ball with his back, surveyed the scene, and casually made a behind-the-head pass to Deng Liwei, who had cut to the Cavaliers’ basket.
After receiving the ball, Deng Liwei scored with a low-handed layup.
Coming back, the Cavaliers were on the attack.
Iverson, responsible for bringing the ball past half-court, used a quick move to shake off Jack, but missed the long two, forcing James to sprint back and forth on the court for the first time.
Iverson had ignored James’ request for the ball with flair, leaving James frowning.
In James’ view, this kind of hero ball was meaningless except for showing off.
Thus, in the next Cavaliers’ offensive round, James used Big Z’s screen to drive hard into the Warrior Forbidden Area, successfully finding Pavlovic, lurking at the corner, with a breakthrough pass.
Although Pavlovic didn’t capitalize, missing the three-pointer as it bounced off the rim, in James’ eyes, at least it was a reasonable play.
However, while retreating to defense, Iverson said to James: "Hey, Brown, you had a perfect opportunity to attack the rim just now, why didn’t you take it?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
"..."
James felt that due to the team’s poor performance in recent years, Iverson had been away from the center of the basketball world for too long.
Attack it myself?
Did you not see that Qin Yue was already waiting on my path forward just now?
In another Cavaliers’ offensive round, seemingly to teach James how to play, Iverson used an ultra-low center of gravity crossover from the outside to slip past Jack.
Then, maneuvering in the Warrior Forbidden Area, Iverson used his rhythm to fool Brown, who was responsible for helping, but just as he was about to complete a layup, the returning Qin Yue mercilessly pinned his shot against the backboard.
Iverson’s height and age limited his effectiveness driving to the hoop.
Moreover, his height meant that if he drove too deep and teammates couldn’t follow, his passing vision was destined to be limited.
However, despite the failed lesson, Iverson wasn’t wrong.
Given James’ current weight and the strong pushing ability it brought him, if he had been more decisive in the previous round, even if he couldn’t score, he would likely have earned two free throws.
In short, just a few rounds into the game, this supposedly compatible backcourt combination...
had already fully exposed their differences in basketball philosophy.
James played awkwardly without the ball.
This was related to "Young James" not yet mastering the scoring techniques known in later years as "clumsy points".
In later years, James, utilizing the new version of the basketball rules, often got an extra acceleration boost upon receiving the ball and frequently used direct cuts, picks and rolls, and weak-side sneak attacks to carry out off-ball offenses.
These relatively simple off-ball cuts, combined with James’ historically strong physique, produced astonishing destructiveness.
But the current version of NBA games, and James’ preference for playing with the ball, dictated that Iverson’s excessive ball-handling would inevitably affect his game rhythm.
And Iverson?
Iverson did have a knack for off-ball cuts.
But who would be afraid of this 32-year-old, future-James-approved under 190 cm GOAT’s off-ball cuts?
In the first quarter of the game.
Facing Iverson, who always had another shot after delivering one, Qin Yue admitted that getting three block stats just from Iverson made him gradually fall in love with this under 190 cm GOAT.
This season, Iverson was no longer the untouchable player he once was.
In the game, even when Iverson raised his hand to demand a call from the referee, the referee didn’t bother to pay attention.
In the second quarter, it was James, who already had PTSD from Qin Yue, illustrating through action his deep understanding of the Warriors by avoiding them.
On the court, James called for a pick-and-roll and often succeeded with his charges, as no one in the Warriors’ bench could contain this Cleveland King rampaging in their forbidden area.
Even Ma Long’s attempt to pack the paint with bodies was futile.
Because James also had his signature jump-pass technique to counter the Warriors’ net laid for him in the interior.
Until Qin Yue and Brown returned to the game.
James instantly reined in his aggression and sensibly opted for the Bald Lion Cold Arrow from the outside to score for the Cavaliers.
Whether in playstyle or individual offensive choices, James could only be described as rational and perfect in this Christmas battle.
He always avoided the Warriors’ strong phases to perform personal attacks and never lingered for points when it was necessary to pass.
Yet James’ playstyle and offensive choices throughout this game...
gave the impression that he seemed more like the second option of this Cavaliers team.
The Warriors’ focus throughout the game was almost entirely on guarding Iverson, who was executing hero ball strategies for the Cavaliers.
In the second half, it wasn’t until the team’s offensive efficiency decreased that Qin Yue, entering single-player mode, scored 27 points for the Warriors, ultimately accumulating 35 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, 7 blocks, and 1 steal for the entire game.
Final score, 88 to 104.
In this slow-paced, tactical battle, the Warriors easily triumphed over a Cavaliers team with supposedly greater theoretical power on paper.
James shot 8 of 16 in total, with 1 of 4 from three, and 5 of 8 free throws, scoring 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Iverson shot 8 of 24 in total, with 2 of 5 from three, and 5 of 6 free throws, tallying 23 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Compared to those Eastern powerhouses they played before...
In Qin Yue’s view, if the Cavaliers couldn’t quickly adapt in upcoming games, they were bound to fail this season.
The Cavaliers have a decent paper strength, but due to the differences in basketball philosophy...
they cannot fully exploit the "Ah Zhan" duo’s potential.
As the Christmas battle concluded, Qin Yue turned 24 from 23...
After ending a frustrating second half of 2007, the Warriors, who had been struggling in torment, finally received some good news in the new year, January.
...
PS: 5000-word Chapter, begging for subscriptions, monthly votes!
