Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 537 - 178 I Play Basketball More Like Kobe (5000 Words - , My Neck Feels Better Today)_2

Chapter 537: Chapter 178 I Play Basketball More Like Kobe (5000 Words Chapter, My Neck Feels Better Today)_2

On the court, the small talk ended as the epic showdown between the Eastern Conference-leading Cavaliers and the league-leading Warriors officially began.

This season, Cavaliers’ head coach Mike Brown further upgraded his specialty—the zone defense.

Randy, the developing Black Bread, always disrupted the opponent’s offensive rhythm by constantly switching between zone and man-to-man defense.

While the zone defense is indeed vulnerable to three-pointers,

the high random variability of shooters’ touch in each game means the use of zone defense remains impressive until the small-ball era.

Black Bread added variations to the Cavaliers’ zone, forming a stable strategy targeting weaker teams during regular season games.

As long as the opposing team fails the Cavaliers’ zone test, James would bulldoze through the court, continually expanding the Cavaliers’ lead.

However, since the Cavaliers faced the Warriors this night...

The Cavaliers naturally need to find a way to pin down the Warriors’ general who considers zone defense trivial.

As Qin Yue’s Star Fury, James, under the guidance of the "Qin Yue’s Law," frequently engaged in high-intensity physical contact with Qin Yue from the very first possession.

Unlike those defenders who used a retreat-style defense to cope with Qin Yue,

James, confident he could keep up with Qin Yue’s pace, played a more proactive defense, making Qin Yue gradually realize that James seemed eager to prove something.

Qin Yue admitted it was precisely James’ wholehearted defense that triggered his serious mode.

So, on the right side of the court, after testing James with a Drag Step, Qin Yue suddenly accelerated, charging into the Cavaliers’ paint like a tank at full speed, forcing his way past James.

The next second, with Big Z in front and James behind, Qin Yue used his historically great finishing ability to forcibly put the ball into the hoop.

And this was an AND-ONE that the referee had to call, even if they were reluctant!

"Good defense, Brown," Qin Yue sincerely praised James, "Just a bit more, and you could stop me."

However, in James’ ears, Qin Yue’s praise was nothing more than blatant provocation.

Qin Yue wasn’t mistaken.

James indeed wanted to prove something in this match.

But what he wanted to prove wasn’t that he had merely brushed the hem of Qin Yue’s robe.

Instead, he intended to show those teams more likely to end Qin Yue’s domination that he was the player capable of contending with Qin Yue in today’s league.

Qin Yue’s free throw was good.

Back on the Cavaliers’ offense.

Playing increasingly smarter, James switched old Bell onto himself with a 2-3 screen, then, fueled by frustration, powered through Bell on the left side of the court.

Browns’ help defense was a step slow, and James converted with a reverse layup.

Then, on the Warriors’ offensive, demanding the ball, Qin Yue, with a quick spin, toyed with James, whose defensive skills and habits still needed refinement.

With a simple between-the-legs dribble and step-back, Qin Yue shook off the overzealous James, upsetting his balance.

Swish!

Throughout the first quarter, Qin Yue, with a focus far exceeding his usual, hit 6 of 9 attempts, including 1 of 2 from three, and 4 of 4 free throws, tallying 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal.

From the back row of the Cavaliers’ bench, Randy Mims, feeling that Qin Yue always took games against James particularly seriously, spoke up in James’ defense, "Well, it’s a good thing Brown no longer considers him a brother; his performance clearly aims to embarrass Brown!"

Was Qin Yue really trying to embarrass James?

The answer is obviously no.

Since the birth of the "Qin Yue’s Law," Qin Yue only entered his serious mode against opponents that piqued his interest, preserving his strength during the regular season.

For instance, the seeding of his due respect to Garnett.

In fact, in that Christmas battle with Supersonic, if someone else guarded the retreat, Qin Yue might not have been as relentless.

It’s just that since the defender was Garnett, Qin Yue wanted to pierce through his defense.

Tonight, Qin Yue afforded James full respect.

Yet, little did he expect, Mims would take such respect as an insult?

Has giving your all in a basketball game really become a transgression?

In the next quarter, Qin Yue came back to the court with unabated firepower.

Thanks to "Qin Yue’s Law," James offered sufficient physical contact against Qin Yue, but during his recovery, Qin Yue made great strides in his post-up skills, using his footwork and rhythm to carve out shooting angles.

On TNT TV, after Qin Yue executed a perfect post-up shoulder shake, spin, and fadeaway in front of James, Barkley, recalling many unpleasant memories, commented, "I think I’m no longer a fan of the Messiah."

Hearing this, Barkley’s old partner Smith chuckled, "Why do you say that, Charles?"

Feeling quite aggrieved, Barkley said, "Because his post-up always reminds me of that darn egg!"

As widely understood, an excellent translation always makes the English intent closer to Chinese usage.

Therefore, even if Barkley’s original words weren’t "that darn egg," when it comes from his heart, this indeed is what he most wanted to express.

In Barkley’s eyes, whenever Qin Yue finished an egg-like post-up on the court, it felt like a thorn driving into his heart.