Slam Dunk: My Study Abroad Career in Northern Hunan

In the slightly dim player tunnel, the Timberwolves players, led by Coach Philip, arrived at the entrance gate.

As the voice of live commentary sounded in the gate, Coach Philip, who was standing in front of the door, opened the door with both hands, stretched out his hand towards the field, and signaled the players to enter.

Amid the cheers of the fans, the spotlights on the field shone on the door of the Timberwolves' entrance. Tom, who was at the front of the line, trotted in, and his appearance made the cheers in the stands even louder.

Only after all other Timberwolves players entered the field did Wu Dao, who was at the end of the team, step into the stadium amid the enthusiastic cheers of the fans. As Wu Dao entered the field, the enthusiasm of the fans in the stands was completely ignited.

This is the Timberwolves' Target Center. Many of the fans who came to watch the game today came from all over the country, and there were even reporters from Asia among the media present.

But overall, local Minnesota fans still make up the majority.

When the Timberwolves players entered the court, the Bulls players were already waiting in the rest area. Led by the coaches of both teams, the players shook hands with each other to show their friendship.

When Wu Dao was shaking hands with the Bulls players, he could clearly feel that the Bulls players were looking at him frequently.

Compared to the regular season, Wu Dao's body lines are now tougher. With his age increase and more exercise, although his weight has not changed much, his muscle density has increased slightly.

This subtle change was also keenly captured by the Lakers players. When Michael Jordan shook hands with Wu Dao, feeling the power coming from his palms, Jordan couldn't help but look at the young man in front of him a few more times.

martial arts
Martial Arts, who led the Timberwolves to the finals, has now been elevated by fans to the same level as Michael Jordan. Of course, the level here does not refer to historical status and influence, but to the player's strength.

Being able to achieve such results in his first year in the NBA, Wu Dao's ability obviously exceeded everyone's expectations.

Until now, I don’t know how many teams regret not choosing Wu Dao during the draft.

While the rookies chosen by their own team are still trying to adapt to the intensity of NBA games, the rookies of other teams have grown into independent giants who can lead the team to the finals.

The gap between them is difficult to express or describe in words.

"You did a really good job. To be honest, you did something I couldn't do when I was younger."

Even Michael Jordan, who is as demanding as he is, is very impressed with the strength of martial arts. No one knows better than him how difficult it is to lead a weak team to achieve results.

These players of the Timberwolves are not weak. If we look at it from today's perspective, even without the existence of martial arts, these players of the Timberwolves can make it to the playoffs.

But saying these things now is just hindsight.

What the fans knew was that before Wu Dao joined the Timberwolves, the Timberwolves were a team that couldn't even make the playoffs. Although the team had high-ranking rookies and even All-Star substitute-level players like Tom, these people could not become a championship-contending team no matter how they got together.

Not to mention comparing it with the Bulls where Michael Jordan is, or the Lakers with Shaquille O'Neal, even the relatively low-key Jazz are much more star-studded than the Timberwolves.

The Timberwolves are able to achieve such results today, and no one will doubt the strength of their star players.

The previous rounds of playoffs also proved Wudang's performance in the playoffs. His existence, like Michael Jordan in his prime, can almost be described as unsolvable.

"Thank you."

"But even if you say so, I won't show mercy."

"I will definitely lead the Timberwolves to win the championship. Even your Bulls can't stop me."

In response to Michael Jordan's praise, Budo was not humble at all and nodded in acceptance.

He would not deny his current achievements. This would not make him appear humble, but would instead show the team's determination to win, which was not what Wu Dao wanted to see.

A little crazy, but Michael Jordan is not annoying.

He never disliked crazy players, he only disliked players without strength. Whether they were teammates or opponents, only talented players could get his recognition.

"champion?!"

"Haha, you're still young, you can't control it."

"It is natural that we, the Bulls, will win the championship."

Michael Jordan tightened his grip, and in response to Wu Dao's slightly provocative words, he smiled.

After letting go of each other's hands, the players from both teams returned to their respective rest areas and began to make final preparations before the game.

The live camera of the game swept across the inner field audience seats, and the fans who were watching the game in front of the TV could see many familiar faces passing through the camera.

It's not just the fans who come to watch today's game.

There were even quite a few NBA players in the audience seats, including Malone, O'Neal, Barkley, and other NBA superstars sitting in different positions in the audience seats.

At this time, Wu Dao, who was sitting in the rest area, listened carefully to Coach Philip's final arrangements before the game, while looking around, trying his best to calm himself down so that he could adapt to the competition environment of the finals.

He did see quite a few familiar figures among the audience in the inner field. Among them, a big yellow-skinned man wearing sportswear also attracted Wudao's attention.

His face is full of collagen, and even when he is sitting on a chair, he is much taller than the audience around him. Yao Ming's figure is extremely eye-catching even among the tall-framed Europeans and Americans.

Wudao recognized the young man at a glance and was a little surprised. He himself did not expect to see Dayao in such an occasion.

In fact, as martial arts has become more and more influential in the NBA, the mainland's red line for playing in the United States has been relaxed. Although Yao Ming is young, he is recognized as one of the most talented players in the mainland. He was sent to the United States early to adapt to the NBA basketball environment in advance.

There is still a long way to go before he officially enters the NBA, but because of the emergence of martial arts, various rules and regulations that have troubled mainland players in the past have now been relaxed.

If he is willing, there will be teams that will approach him.

In fact, for today's game, Wudao tried to ask his acquaintances to get tickets for Sakuragi Hanamichi so that Sakuragi Hanamichi could also come to watch the game, but unfortunately, the tickets for the finals were too difficult to get, and he failed to get any.

Although it's a pity, Wudao feels that with Sakuragi's current ambitious personality, he will not miss the live broadcast of the finals.

"Beep——"

The buzzer sounded in the stadium, and the game between the Bulls and the Timberwolves was about to begin.

The starting players of both teams stood up from the dugout and walked towards the court.

Wu Dao took a deep breath, adjusted his emotions, and then followed his teammates into the court.

The Timberwolves' starting lineup is not much different from the past. In addition to the four regular players, Wu Dao, Marbury, Garnett, and Tom, the other starting center is Cherokee Parks. Cherokee Parks is the most skilled player among all the Timberwolves' inside players. Although his hard power is somewhat behind that of the Bulls' Luke Longley, with Garnett's help defense, it is not difficult to stop the opponent.

The Timberwolves' starting lineup did not surprise Zen Master Phil Jackson. Although the Timberwolves had an outstanding record, in Phil Jackson's opinion, the Timberwolves' bench lineup was not strong enough.

As a championship-contending team, the Timberwolves' bench lineup is not only not solid, but the gap in strength between them and the starting players is too huge.

If it weren't for the fact that the Timberwolves' starting players were so strong, the Timberwolves would never have reached this point.

Of course, this also has a lot to do with the opponents they encounter.

This season, the second teams of many teams are actually not strong.

It's not just the Timberwolves, even the Bulls who won the championship last year, their bench lineup was not strong.

Veterans and new recruits make up the vast majority of the team, and the vast majority of the salaries are used to support a few star players in the team. This is also a shortcoming that many giants in the league today have.

Bulls point guard Ron Harper did not play with the team, which was a surprise to coach Philip.

In addition to Michael Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman who played the triangle offense, the remaining two players were Luc Longley and Kukoc.

The average height of the entire Bulls is quite good, comparable to that of the Timberwolves.

Looking at the Bulls' starting players, Marbury also felt a lot of pressure. He already had a premonition of who he would be facing in today's game. This was a huge challenge for Marbury.

Of course, for young players, being able to challenge Michael Jordan is also what they desire.

Defeating Michael Jordan is what all young people desire in their hearts.

The players from both teams took their positions in the center circle, and the referee also walked into the field with the ball.

As the basketball is thrown into the air, the game officially begins.

The people responsible for the jump ball in the center circle were Garnett and Luke Longley. The young Garnett had outstanding height and jumping ability. He suppressed Luke Longley for a while, touched the basketball first, and pushed the ball to the backcourt.

After getting the basketball, Marbury excitedly growled, "Well done, Kevin!"

Amid the cheers of the fans, the Timberwolves began their attack.

"Hey, kid, it's your first time playing in the finals. Are you feeling a little nervous?"

"Relax, you're just here to experience the atmosphere anyway."

Budo was positioned outside the three-point line on the right side of the Bulls' half court, facing the Bulls' Pippen.

At this time, Pippen opened his arms slightly, glanced at Marbury at the top of the arc, and at the same time smiled and talked to Wu Dao in front of him.

Compared to the nervous Timberwolves, the experienced Bulls players were obviously much more relaxed. The finals stage was not unfamiliar to them at all, but very familiar.

These experienced home players were very relaxed. Not only did they not feel any pressure, but they were able to chat with the players opposite them. To them, the finals and the regular season seemed to be no different.

Pippen's words were full of irony. Wu Dao glanced at Pippen without saying anything. He just turned his body to the side, put his right arm directly on Pippen's chest, and stretched out his left hand to ask for the ball from Mabu at the top of the arc.

Seeing Wu Dao trying to get the ball, Pippen leaned forward, put pressure on him and quickly moved his right hand forward to block Wu Dao's face. His defensive posture was very aggressive and he was not afraid of confrontation at all.

Marbury, who wanted to pass the ball, saw Pippen's aggressive defense, so he didn't pass the ball immediately after passing the ball, and his movements were stuck.

The flaw that appeared at this moment was also accurately controlled by Michael Jordan on the opposite side.

Jordan quickly leaned forward, reached out his hand and tapped the basketball, knocking the ball directly out of Marbury's hands.

After making a mistake, Marbury wanted to grab the ball again to make up for his mistake, but before he could take any action, Michael Jordan had already pressed his body against him, forcing him back. At the same time, he also controlled the ball in his hands and quickly rushed towards the forest to the half court.

Facing an opponent like Michael Jordan, any slight mistake would be seized upon.

The opponent is not only a goat on the offensive end, but also on the defensive end.

There is a big gap between Marbury's physical fitness and Michael Jordan's. When facing such an enemy, Marbury must be in high spirits.

The basketball was intercepted and the Timberwolves players began to return to defense quickly.

Marbury, who was originally chasing Michael Jordan, saw Wu Dao rushing out from the flank and blocking Jordan, and he slowly slowed down his pace.

He knew that he would not be able to stop Jordan relying on his physical fitness. He glanced at Pippen who was cooperating with Jordan on a fast break, and Marbury quickly changed his route, intending to block the passing route between Jordan and Pippen.

Michael Jordan, who was in the middle of a fast break, could hear footsteps getting closer and closer to him. He slightly adjusted his pace and looked behind him with his peripheral vision, and found that the person chasing him was actually Wu Dao.

"Then come and try to stop me!"

Jordan showed a slight smile on his face and thought to himself, and when he reached the free throw line, Wu Dao had already circled in front of Jordan.

Facing Wu Dao's defense, Jordan had no intention of slowing down. After receiving the ball, he took two big steps and put his body directly on Wu Dao. He was not afraid of the physical confrontation with Wu Dao at all.

Wu Dao's terrifying power made Jordan fly back to the side when he jumped, but Michael Jordan had no intention of coming up himself. He hooked the basketball in his hand, and the basketball flew in a high arc and passed over Wu Dao's fingertips.

Marbury, who was trying to cut off the passing route between Jordan and Pippen, suddenly found that Pippen behind him had already taken off into the air.

He grabbed the basketball in the air with both hands and dunked the ball directly into the basket.

A beautiful alley-oop slam dunk immediately ignited the Bulls fans in the stands.

Marbury's defensive awareness is actually very good, but the absolute physical gap cannot be made up by awareness alone.

Facing an alley-oop, he had absolutely no way out.

After the opening, the Timberwolves, who had taken the initiative, lost two points first, which made the Timberwolves players, who were already a little nervous, even more tense.

(End of this chapter)