My days of working at the NBA

Chapter 25: The Answer to the Forward Line?

Butler did indeed play.

Of course, there's no reason not to go.

In the final stages of the first half, Marquette University took the lead by double digits thanks to Butler's outstanding performance. Since he's so effective, he should definitely be used more often.

Booz Williams isn't stupid. How could he possibly drop the stick after hitting the enemy in their vital spot?

Both sides returned to the field.

The match is about to begin again.

In the stands.

Lisa suddenly had a thought and turned to ask, "Sir, do you think Missouri can turn things around?"

John frowned and thought for a moment: "Missouri's pressing defense is very strong, but it has a side effect. While it can limit the opponent, it also drains their own energy. In many games, their attacking form is poor in the first half because they start too aggressively. So, I think they still have a chance to adjust."

Lisa smiled and said, "Sir, you truly deserve to be called the NBA's top scout. You follow so many teams and pay attention to so many rookies every year, yet you still remember some details of Missouri's games so clearly. It's truly admirable."

John ignored her compliment and asked instead, "What do you think?"

Lisa thought for a moment: "I feel that 23 points in the first half is not Missouri's true level, but if they can't solve the Butler problem, they will be in big trouble."

John nodded repeatedly: "Very good analysis."

Marquette's main offensive players, McNeil and Matthews, are absolutely reliable. If Butler also has a meltdown in this situation, Missouri's chances of a comeback won't be so easy.

The whistle blew.

The second half begins with Missouri on offense.

Carroll received the ball at the top of the key, looking for an opportunity, and Duze immediately understood and came up to help screen for him.

With the help of his adaptation over the past few days, the quality of his cover has improved considerably, and Carroll easily bypassed it.

Just when everyone thought Carroll was going to force his way in again, he bounced the ball out as soon as he stepped into the paint.

Everyone's attention was still on him, but Du Ze had already successfully gotten the ball, and there was a wide-open space under the basket.

Given Duze's impact, Marquette simply couldn't fill in in time.

A thunderous dunk.

2 points earned.

John's eyes lit up: "Du's cut-to-the-bottom after the screen is much smoother."

Lisa was somewhat surprised: "Missouri has changed their tactics? They're actually letting Duze lead the attack?"

Look back.

Marquette has set up his formation and is slowly advancing.

Duze appeared in front of Butler so naturally. Butler was taken aback for a moment, then quickly realized that this big guy was here to guard him?

Ah... the center is here to defend him?

Is this normal?

Butler frowned, looking quite surprised.

However, the guy in front of me didn't seem to be much taller or bigger than me.

Butler wasn't the only one who was surprised.

Booz Williams, standing on the sidelines, frowned and said, "What's this old man up to?"

John, watching from the stands, suddenly brightened up: "Is Durant here to defend Butler?"

Lisa: "What a strange formation."

On the field.

The two of them pushed and shoved each other across the halfway point.

Butler suddenly started moving, coming around from the baseline to receive the ball. Duze seemed to have anticipated this, taking two steps to block him, his chest slightly leaning forward, completely obscuring the passing lane.

Butler glanced at him, his expression blank, and nudged him with his elbow, trying to make room.

Du Ze remained completely still.

He tried again, but it still didn't budge.

Butler said, "You're blocking my way."

Du Ze replied calmly, "I know."

Isn't that obvious?

That's what I'm blocking.

Butler opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing. Then, he suddenly sprinted back, slipping under Duze's armpit at lightning speed. Aké reacted quickly, bouncing the ball back to him.

Butler caught the ball and immediately turned around, his movement swift and clean.

But after he finished turning over, he was stunned.

Du Ze had already stood right in front of him, his hands raised high, in a gesture of surrender.

Butler tumbled left and right, but couldn't budge Duze.

What puzzled him even more was that Du Ze made no attempt to reach for the ball, which deprived him of the opportunity to perform a straight-arm jump.

In desperation, he pretended to throw the ball, but still failed to trick Du Ze into getting up.

His wish to trick someone into committing a foul has failed again.

At last.

He could only force himself to get hard against Du Ze.

He regretted it as soon as he jumped up.

Du Zeli stood before him like a mountain, giving him the feeling that he could never get over it.

In mid-air, he wanted to switch to passing and distribute the ball to his teammates.

But it's too late.

The ball was still in his hand when Du Ze slapped it away.

Lawrence picked up the ball and dashed across the halfway line like a whirlwind.

Marquette University's defense was also quick to retreat, with several players crammed into the paint, leaving no room for them to break through.

Lawrence didn't know what he was thinking, but he still gritted his teeth and rushed in.

Marquette continued to tighten up the defense before he made the pass.

English received the ball, took a step beyond the three-point line and shot directly. The ball flew in a high arc and bounced off the back of the rim with a thud.

Duze and Butler jumped almost simultaneously under the basket.

The two bodies collided in mid-air, and Du Ze could feel Butler using his elbow to brace against his arm, deliberately leaning against him.

That kid's really cunning; he's got a whole bunch of little tricks up his sleeve.

But Duze is now bound to Josh Smith's body template, and his core strength is something Butler can't shake. He managed to stabilize his posture in mid-air, grabbed the rebound with both hands, and landed without pausing. He immediately flipped over and jumped up for a powerful one-handed dunk.

With a loud bang, the entire basketball hoop shook.

Butler was knocked back two steps, and after regaining his balance, he looked at Duze and suddenly said, "Wow, you're really strong."

It sounded like flattery, but also like trying to cover up the embarrassment of failing to grab a rebound despite a three-on-one attempt.

Du Ze ignored him, silently thinking, "First rebound."

The point difference has been narrowed to 7 points.

In just thirty seconds after the second half resumed, they had already closed the gap to four points.

That's quite a powerful attack.

Seeing that Duze ignored him, Butler walked dejectedly towards the frontcourt.

Marquette then launched an attack.

McNeil held the ball at the top of the arc for a moment, then suddenly started his run, but Lawrence was highly focused and was not shaken off at all.

McNeil was cornered near the free-throw line after only a few steps, and had no choice but to pass the ball to Matthews on the wing.

Matthews feinted and took a step toward the inside. Duze immediately rotated from the weak side with quick and dense footwork. Seeing this, he dared not force his way in and chose to pass the ball to Burke under the basket.

Burke caught the ball and immediately got up.

The height advantage of a seven-foot tall man was fully demonstrated at this moment. The feeling of him standing tall and breaking through the sky made all the defenders under the basket look shorter.

Just as he was about to smash the ball into the basket, a large hand reached out from the side and precisely pressed down on the ball.

Upon closer inspection, it was Du Ze again.

The entire audience fell silent for a moment, then erupted in deafening gasps.

Burke stood there stunned for two seconds, looked down at his hands, then looked up at Duze, his face full of incomprehension.

How did a center who is a full ten centimeters shorter than me manage to do that?

"Second block."

Du Ze silently made a mental note of it, his face expressionless.

Lisa was overjoyed: "He was defending two men at once, and I didn't expect him to be so fast. It's really unexpected. If he can develop his ball-handling skills, he could be the answer on the front line."

John didn't reply, but just frowned thoughtfully.