Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 523 - 173: Ten Thousand Years as Number 2, The League’s Number 2 Center (5K, Begging for Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets)_3
Why use "again"?
Because since the introduction of "Qin Yue’s Law", teams have been treating the NBA three-point line as their protective talisman when facing Qin Yue. This season, the environment Qin Yue faces for outside shooting can only be described as unprecedented in history.
However...
Even with the help of all the NBA teams, Qin Yue achieved a staggering 39% three-point shooting percentage in November, but in Curry’s eyes, this kind of slightly contested three-point shot...
As long as the opponent dares to let him shoot, he’s fully confident he can hit nearly 50%.
At this moment, Curry wasn’t exaggerating.
After all, historically, in his rookie season, Curry had close to a 44% three-point shooting percentage.
And among those, many were irrationally contested shots.
In the Knicks’ paint area, Li diligently protected the defensive rebound for the Knicks.
As the temporary second-in-command of this Knicks team, although Li is highly likely to be put on the trade block by the Knicks next summer, this double-double machine is even more motivated to give his all in games because of it.
This Knicks team indeed has a bright future.
Next summer, with the expiration of several high-salary player contracts, they will not only have ample cap space to attract a superstar, but they might even conduct a sign-and-trade with Li as the centerpiece.
On the return, Qin Yue, determined to personally feel Durant’s improvement speed, proactively chose to match up with Durant.
Perhaps, off the court, Durant lacks charisma.
But the moment he got the basketball, Qin Yue noticed, Durant immediately became a different person.
Did the Death God become the Death God overnight?
Of course not.
In fact, anyone who has watched Durant’s games in the 09/10 season, and his performances in the 2010 World Championships, would have discovered that Durant had long possessed a killer instinct on the court.
It’s just that his physical conditioning limited Durant’s critical strike damage in games.
On the right side of the court, after confusing Qin Yue with a drag step, Durant then gathered himself for a jump shot.
This is Durant’s signature move, and also Qin Yue’s specialty.
Except that, as the defender experiencing this fast pull-up accomplished through human-ball integration, Qin Yue realized that even for him, it’s difficult to defend it every single possession.
Swoosh!
Soon after the game started, Durant hit a significant long two-point jump shot.
On ESPN, A-Smith fervently cheered for Durant: "Ladies and gentlemen, we may be witnessing the beginning of a great rivalry, with the Messiah ’KD’ proving his scoring ability in the Bay Area!"
Ever since Qin Yue’s sponsors started elevating him, Qin Yue’s reputation has already made him an object of pursuit for many young players, much like the stories of Jordan back in the day.
And among them, the fastest runner, undoubtedly, is Durant.
In the Warriors’ offensive possessions, Qin Yue actively demanded the ball and successfully used 3-4 pick-and-rolls to switch Durant in front of him.
Although Qin Yue is very pleased with Durant’s growth.
But Qin Yue, who always responds to the challenge, how could he allow anyone to get close to him?
Facing the equally sagging defense by Durant, Qin Yue proactively used a front crossover to narrow the distance between him and Durant, and just as he got close, he suddenly performed a spin move, and in the shocked gaze of Durant, he leapt and sent the ball into the hoop.
Immediately on the return, Qin Yue gave Durant ample physical confrontation during the off-ball phase.
Qin Yue very much understood Durant’s pull-up was hard to defend.
But he also knew how to lower the shooting success rate of this pull-up.
This offensive play, amidst the New York nightlife, the young Harden with his drowsy eyes continued to look for Durant.
However, Qin Yue successfully anticipated that after being subjected to sufficient physical confrontation, Durant would choose to drive to increase his finishing efficiency.
So, Qin Yue intentionally let Durant go to his right hand, and followed closely behind.
When the young Durant thought there was no obstacle in front of him, and attempted a solo slash and dunk, Qin Yue, who was long awaiting, soared and swatted Durant’s ball away high in the sky.
Qin Yue used his experience to teach Durant a lesson.
But just at the right moment, Westbrook, who retrieved the ball, took the opportunity to rush into the Warriors’ restricted area, and scored two points with a bank shot layup.
Westbrook’s instinct for rebounds and the basketball’s second bounce is innate.
If Qin Yue remembers correctly, in Westbrook’s rookie season he could average over 2 offensive rebounds per game.
In just two possessions, this Knicks team has fully displayed their talent.
Qin Yue did not foolishly engage in a contest of bravery with these young players.
In the Warriors’ offensive play, he proactively called on Nash to jointly present the Knicks fans with one of the greatest duos performances in NBA history.
When Nash’s shooting range perfectly created space for Qin Yue, Brown appropriately served as a wall near the free-throw line, and with a big stride heading towards the Knicks’ paint, Qin Yue then received Nash’s alley-oop pass.
Qin Yue gracefully extended in the air, and with an easy and comfortable tomahawk alley-oop, smashed the basketball into the Knicks’ basket.
This exhilarating coordination even drew cheers from quite a number of Knicks fans present.
Thanks to the hope brought to New Yorkers by the Knicks’ trio, Knicks fans have indeed become more "xenophobic".
But among them, it’s clear that it does not include Qin Yue, who has always treated Madison Square Garden as his home.
Now it’s the Knicks’ turn to attack.
Westbrook, with his straightforward approach, held the ball outside and overpowered Bell with raw talent.
However, facing the Warriors’ draft twin towers, Westbrook, with his beast-like physique, clearly lacked respect for Qin Yue wielding Anduril and Brown with the Lorien Longbow.
In the Warriors’ zone, both Brown and Qin Yue jumped simultaneously to team up and stop Westbrook.
This block was eventually credited to Qin Yue, who swatted the ball out of bounds just before Brown.
However, in that moment upon landing, Brown ferociously stepped towards the fallen Westbrook and said, "Who gave you the courage to challenge a zone guarded by the league’s second-best center?"
...
PS: 5000 word Chapter, sincerely requesting subscriptions and moon tickets.
