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Chapter 295 Peerless Twins, Not as Good as LeBron
That night, Qin Yue performed a miracle right at Madison Square Garden right from the start.
The fact that the "basketball mecca" immediately fell into complete silence is undoubtedly the best praise for this new era's basketball god.

On the court, the Knicks are on offense.

To boost morale, Durant responded to GOAT's opening dunk with a pull-up jumper near the free-throw line.

Swish!
The basketball hit the net.

However, before the home fans could even recover...

On the Warriors' side, Qin Yue used a seemingly ordinary crossover dribble to shake off Howard on the perimeter.

Then, with ample time to adjust, Qin Yue made a jump shot after stepping back from the three-point line.

It wasn't until the big screen at the scene started replaying Qin Yue's dribbling skills that people realized what had happened.
In that instant, invisible to the naked eye, why was Howard knocked down by the GOAT?

Just like Ronaldo, who was nicknamed "The Phenomenon" back then, only slow-motion replays can allow the world to fully appreciate the essence of his dribbling skills on the field.

In slow motion, viewers discovered that Qin Yue had incredibly controlled the basketball, completing a pendulum-like change of direction from left to right and then from right to left.
If you don't understand, just ask. What kind of body control ability is this?

What kind of human-ball coordination is that?
TNT television station Barkley stated bluntly, "I don't believe anyone in the world could defend Messiah's breakthrough one-on-one."

O'Neal chimed in, "That's outrageous. In a fraction of a second, he can control his enormous body to swing back and forth like a kung fu star in a Hollywood movie."

Smith exclaimed, "Special effects! This must be special effects!"

On the court, Durant, as the Knicks' star player, wanted to comfort Howard, who had been faked out by Qin Yue.

But to everyone's surprise, Howard didn't take Qin Yue's feint to the ground at all.

“'KD', I don’t need comforting, because I’m already used to all of this.”

At that moment, Howard spoke to Durant with a half-smile, half-crying expression.

Upon hearing this, Durant immediately let out a long sigh.

This is GOAT at full power.

When he always manages to score in ways that defy conventional wisdom on the court, aside from getting used to being dominated by him, which player dares to say they can definitely defend against him?
The Knicks then launch their attack.

Harden's step-back three-pointer missed.

Howard took advantage of Qin Yue being moved away from the paint by Love and scored the rebound.

Immediately afterwards, the Warriors gained possession of the ball.

To prevent Howard from suffering the same kind of humiliation as James did years ago when Qin Yue beat him, Love double-teamed him early, trying to force Qin Yue to pass the ball.

but
Qin Yue, who had already observed Love's movements, decisively passed the ball and turned around, overtaking Love's double-team.

Howard, who was about to turn around, collided with his teammate Love, and his face was filled with obvious helplessness.

Howard knew very well that Love's help defense this time was by no means a hindrance.

However, Qin Yue's phenomenal performance tonight is beyond the control of any human.

On the sidelines, D'Antoni, whose CPU allowed him to keep up with the pace for once, hurriedly called on the Knicks players to switch to a zone defense in the next possession.

Seeing this, Qin Yue, who had already played three rounds in a row, calmly stood at the free throw line and created an opportunity for Wallace to cut to the basket through his support.

For the Knicks, this is definitely the last thing they want to see.

This means that, as Qin Yue's individual firepower exceeded their defensive limits, GOAT had reconnected with his teammates.

Fortunately, the Knicks, who had no way to defend Qin Yue for the time being, managed to stabilize the situation thanks to a barrage of points from Harden and Durant.

Halfway through the first quarter
During the official timeout, Kwame Brown yelled, "FUCK! It was clearly LeBron James who grabbed my arm, but the damn referee called a foul on me!"

Before the NBA changed its rules on drawing fouls, James Harden's signature move was to deliberately clamp his arm around the defender and use exaggerated gestures to get free throws.

It must be said that this method of drawing fouls can easily cause defensive players to break down mentally.

Harden's method of drawing fouls is a typical example of him deliberately expanding his body to draw fouls.

Simply put, even if you don't attack Harden on defense, Harden will find a way to make you attack him.

In Qin Yue's memory, Harden's signature move was only dethroned when the NBA changed the relevant rules, because in later generations, intentionally folding arms together would become an offensive foul.

Of course, since the current era belongs to the version of "extortionate Deng" (a Chinese internet slang term for someone who deliberately causes trouble),
No matter how angry the Warriors players were that Harden drew fouls on them that night, all they could do afterward was curse Harden.

On the court, after a timeout, the Knicks have an offensive possession.

As Durant drew two fouls with a one-handed backflip and went to the free-throw line, Draymond Green, on the Warriors' bench, quipped, "Does the referee even want us to play? Does this mean that if 'KD' raises his hand, it's always a foul on us?"

Unlike Harden's method of flopping.

Similar to the historical period in Qin Yue's memory, Durant's ability to draw fouls largely relied on his own physical advantages.

By actively swinging his arm during the shot transition, Durant, who already has an amazing wingspan, can not only actively expand his cylinder, but also, due to his slender build, visually increase the referees' tendency to call fouls.

In short, I'll say something neither Qin Yue nor James want to hear.
Judging from the course of this game, Harden and Durant have already become two superstars.

On the court, as Harden and Durant repeatedly stepped to the free-throw line, this "free-throw duo" almost instantly turned the tide for the Knicks.

Because going to the free-throw line offers the easiest way to score on the basketball court.
An increase in the number of fouls committed by defensive players often leads to the team becoming more hesitant and timid in their defensive play.

At the end of the first quarter, the score was 31-31.

At Madison Square Garden, facing the GOAT who had reconnected with his teammates in Game 3, the Knicks' free throw duo miraculously turned the tide for their team with 16 free throws in a single quarter.

TNT's Barkley said, "This game, which was repeatedly interrupted, has clearly severely impacted the Warriors' offensive rhythm."

Indeed, at this moment, the offensive rhythm that Barkley mentioned was also one of the factors that affected the Warriors in this game due to the Knicks' incredible free throws.

In the second quarter, feeling that the team's situation was not optimistic, Mike Malone even asked for a technical foul.

"Damn this league! Isn't it obvious they don't want us to win?" Malone, furious, smashed his clipboard to pieces on the sidelines.

However, at this moment when the entire Warriors team was deeply affected by the Knicks' incredible free throws, Qin Yue said calmly, "Don't panic, I'm here."

As someone who's been through it all, Qin Yue understands better than anyone else.
Since the Warriors couldn't gain any advantage over the Knicks at home, they should be prepared to be thrashed by the Knicks on the road.

Even for the defending champions who want to achieve a four-peat, this is a test that is far from fair.

But right now, the Warriors can only regain control of the series if they overcome the Knicks' home-court advantage and reclaim home-court advantage.

Therefore, compared to arguing with the referee.

At this moment, Qin Yue had only one thought in his mind.

That is.
How to lead the team to victory at Madison Square Garden under such unfavorable circumstances?

In the second quarter, after only a three-minute break, Qin Yue voluntarily went to the scorer's table.

"I'll have plenty of time to rest after the Finals." "Now that my team needs me, of course I have to get back on the court early."

In the basketball mecca, the GOAT returned to the stage amidst boos from the home crowd.

On the court, the Warriors are on offense.

Facing Howard, he suddenly started and stopped at the three-point line.

Although Howard reacted with historic speed and lunged forward the instant Qin Yue made his move.

But how could Howard possibly reach Qin Yue's target point with just his reaction?
Swish-!
At this moment, Madison Square Garden was once again silenced by Qin Yue.

Meanwhile, the Warriors' reserves, knowing that key players like Wallace, Green, and Brown were facing foul trouble and that they would have to play longer in the second quarter, all turned their attention to Qin Yue.

Previously as rivals
If, in Ray Allen's eyes, Qin Yue was the most terrifying being on this planet.

At that moment, Ray Allen, who was fighting alongside Qin Yue, felt an unprecedented sense of security.

Because with Warriors, you can choose to trust Da Qin at any time.

The Knicks then launch their attack.

Qin Yue, who was constantly pushing himself to the limit, took over the defense against Durant at the last moment after anticipating Durant's breakthrough route.

Unlike when facing other people.

Because the "Qin Yue Law" stipulates that the GOAT (Greatest Attack) must be retained as a star referee in defense.

So, in this possession where Durant was trying to draw a foul and get free throws with a long, sweeping motion, he was ultimately met with a merciless block from Qin Yue.

Furthermore, watching Durant try to ask the referee for a whistle after landing, Qin Yue couldn't help but quip, "Next time you can try kneeling down to the referee like LeBron did."

"Maybe this will get you to the free-throw line."

Upon hearing this, Durant angrily retorted, "Don't compare me to that forsaken son of heaven!"

Qin Yue shrugged and said, "Is there a difference? Anyway, you're all players who can't play without free throws."

On the court, Qin Yue's trash talk clearly affected Durant's mentality.

In the next possession, to prove to Qin Yue that he was not the kind of player who couldn't play without free throws, Durant unleashed an overly powerful pull-up jumper, which instantly became a defensive rebound for Qin Yue.

So, is it possible that young people simply can't outmaneuver older people in terms of mentality?

In the Knicks' halftime, Qin Yue used a screen to switch Durant in front of him. Qin Yue then forcefully drove to the basket, knocking Durant down and slamming home a one-handed dunk.

"LeBron's defense isn't as soft as yours."

Moreover, Qin Yue, who never holds back in his words just because his opponent is a fan or friend, gave Durant a good lesson at this moment.

That is, once you step onto the court, there is no room for friendship.

All you can do is figure out how to destroy your opponent.

Regardless of the situation.

It's still about mindset.

On the court, the Knicks' offensive possession.

With Qin Yue's words, "LeBron's defense isn't as soft as yours," still lingering in his mind, Durant once again pulled up for a shot that missed the mark.

After securing the defensive rebound for his team, Qin Yue dribbled the ball across half-court with long strides.

Swish!
At the scorer's table, as Ray Allen hit a three-pointer off an assist from Qin Yue, Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni had no choice but to call a timeout.

It's worth mentioning that when Durant returned to the bench with his teammates, he angrily slammed the towel his teammates handed him onto the floor.

"What exactly did you say to 'KD'? He suddenly seems like a completely different person?" Brown asked curiously from the Warriors' bench.

Seeing this, Qin Yue laughed and said, "I only said one thing: he's not as good as LeBron."

"."

Is he not as good as LeBron?

At that moment, Brown never expected that Qin Yue could curse so filthily without using any profanity.

In Brown's view, given James' current status as a top player in the basketball world, coupled with his feud with Durant, it's clear that...
This statement is just as damaging to Durant as directly insulting his ancestors.

After the timeout, the game resumed.

Andre Iguodala, whose three-point shooting is only accurate in crucial moments, hit a game-winning three-pointer for the Knicks to stabilize the team's morale.

However, in the next Warriors offensive possession, Durant once again found himself vulnerable to being broken down.

During the process of Durant helping Howard double-team Qin Yue, Qin Yue made a difficult fadeaway jumper despite being double-teamed by the Knicks. Qin Yue said to Durant, "Your double-team selection is just as bad as LeBron's. Has no one taught you guys how to defend?"

LeBron!
LeBron!
It's LeBron again!
Can you fucking stop mentioning that piece of trash's name in front of me?

On the court, the Knicks are on offense.

Increasingly angry, Durant mustered all his strength, determined to shut Qin Yue up with his signature offense.

But the next second, Durant, who had used a double crossover to get past Butler, unfortunately assisted Qin Yue for a defensive rebound.

At Madison Square Garden, Qin Yue, who hadn't expected that even without James on the court, could influence the outcome of the game, immediately launched a transition attack with the ball.

no doubt.

This is absolutely James' greatest episode in Qin Yue's mind.

In the Knicks' first half, Qin Yue assisted Butler for a two-pointer.

On the scoreboard, the score between the two teams in Nyong'an reached 47 to 41.

The Knicks, who had initially dominated the game thanks to the home-court advantage and the referee's incredible officiating, suddenly relinquished control of the game to the Warriors because of LeBron James's formidable reputation.

During the game, Durant, who only emerged from James' shadow in the final moments of the second quarter, made 2 of 7 field goals and 1 of 2 free throws, completely lost in Qin Yue's sharp comments such as "You are not as good as LeBron" and "What is the difference between you and LeBron?"

At halftime, the score was 65-55.

Despite a tough first half with a free throw deficit of 8 to 28, the Warriors went into halftime with a 10-point lead on the road.

At this moment, realizing that he had been mentally manipulated by Qin Yue, Durant uttered a statement that many players couldn't help but want to say when facing Qin Yue:
"Fuck it!"

……

PS: Update delivered! One more chapter is still owed, I'll try to finish it quickly. (Also, my prediction for tonight's score between the Chinese national team and Indonesia: barring any surprises, this Indonesian team, which has naturalized an entire Dutch second-string squad, will win 3-0 or 3-1.)
(End of this chapter)