Basketball trainer, I created a super giant

Chapter 263 Who is the real team basketball player?
New York fans keep their word.

They have plenty of money, so they filled up the Army Aviation Stadium, occupying half of the stands.

At first glance, all you see are Knicks blue and orange jerseys.

When the Nets players entered the court, a huge chorus of boos erupted from the crowd.

So much so that a brawl broke out among fans in the stands before the match even started.

Kidd looked up and saw a very eye-catching sign.

You bumpkins from New Jersey, you're doomed!

Very arrogant, extremely arrogant!
Kidd was in a bad mood, and that feeling got even worse when Billups accidentally knocked away his pass.

Kidd's eyes followed Billups.

That play wasn't an accident. He had a strong intuition that Billups had anticipated the direction of his pass, rushed out in advance, and made the interception.

This is incredible.

Kidd even suspected that the Nets had a mole who had sold the playbook to the Knicks.

Another possibility is that Billups, from a point guard's perspective, observed the Nets' positioning and deduced their tactical movement.

If that's the case, then this guy's overall perspective is becoming increasingly terrifying.

The key point is that I haven't heard of Townsend finding elementary school students for Billups to practice organizing offense in New York.

And this elementary school student.

A four-time league assist leader, he still hasn't been able to beat the "elementary school level" (a term used to describe players who are not very good at playing against others), and he always feels inferior to Billups.

Just as I was lost in thought, Billups, quick as a flash, came to steal the ball again.

Kidd pulled back to protect the ball, giving Billups a disgruntled look.

Once is enough, why did you do it twice? Do you really think I'm one of those trash point guards?

But when he looked up and saw the Knicks' impenetrable defense, Kidd started to have a headache again.

Only a few minutes into the game, Kidd could already feel the defensive pressure from the Knicks.

Billups' high defensive positioning.

Then everyone closely marks the defender and quickly switches and assists in the defense.

The Knicks have clearly put a lot of effort into their defense.

As the players moved and the formations shifted, Kidd seized an opportunity and passed the ball to Kenyon Martin.

His ability to drive to the basket remains one of the Nets' few sharp weapons.

Moreover, he is the team's second-highest scorer.

This season, Kidd, who was both a father and a mother figure, still managed to achieve a career-high score and become the Nets' leading scorer.

It's pitiful just thinking about it.

Kidd never considered himself a clutch scorer.

The timing of the pass was excellent; Jason Collins brought Yao Ming out of the paint.

For Martin, it was a perfect opportunity to cut to the basket, take one step, and slam dunk.

But the next moment, he was stuck firmly in the headband.

Swift!

The lateral movement was perfectly timed, blocking its own path.

Moreover, the challenge was intense, and Martin was momentarily disoriented before he managed to protect the ball.

A brilliant attack was thus thwarted without a trace.

Martin lacks the ability to attack with the ball, and seeing that the shot clock was running out, he was forced to choose to force a shot.

Dribble towards the basket.

As soon as the game started, Yao Ming came over to help defend.

The ball was completely blocked, so naturally it didn't go in.

Martin turned and ran away, looking dejected.

The Knicks' speed, or rather their awareness, in helping defense was too strong.

And when she caught the ball, Swift didn't lose her position.

This guy is extremely fast; it's hard for me to get rid of him.

Carlisle casually clapped his hands on the sidelines.

He started Swift specifically to counter Martin.

Martin is an important scoring option for the Nets, but his skills are too rough, and his ability to attack with the ball is almost zero.

If someone can keep an eye on him, the Nets' offense can be rendered ineffective.

Swift happens to be such a springy inside player with explosive athleticism.

Even if he weren't chosen, Carlisle had plenty of options.

He didn't think Bender or Chandler could keep up with Martin. Martin was fast once he got going, but before he got going, he wasn't that fast.

However, Carlisle is still willing to experiment with different lineups when facing weaker teams, giving these role players a chance to get a feel for the playoffs and adapt.

This will prevent any issues with adaptation during the final competition.

Indeed, in Carlisle's view, the Nets, who are first in the East, are a weak team that he can use to experiment with different lineups.

If Scott on the other side knew about this idea, he would be furious and give Carlisle a good dressing down.

But Scott already sensed the danger.

The Nets' pride lies in team basketball, in the teamwork orchestrated by Kidd's overall vision.

And of course, there were Martin and Jefferson's attacks on the rim.

Often, it's Kidd who throws the ball toward the basket, and Martin rushes out to dunk it all the way.

Jefferson, on the other hand, has grown rapidly, and his ability to break through and attack the basket is also top-notch.

With this style of play, the New Jersey media called the Nets a "three-horse chariot"—once they get going, they charge forward unstoppably!

But now, the Nets' most prized asset is completely untapped.

Martin was locked up very tightly, and so was Jefferson.

With Prince's outstretched arm, Jefferson couldn't break through at all.

In the end, they even had to rely on Kidd, on his piecemeal efforts.

With Kidd missing another three-pointer, Scott called a timeout without hesitation.

He felt heavy-hearted, knowing that the Nets were facing serious problems.

Kidd can score, but if the Nets rely entirely on Kidd to score, they're doomed to lose.

Scott glanced at the score: 14 to 8. Halfway through the quarter, the Knicks were already leading by 6 points.

Judging from this momentum, it's practically a carbon copy of the Knicks' game against the Wizards in the last round, where they managed to build a 10-point lead in the first quarter.

Even more critically, the Nets lack the Wizards' ability to solve tough problems.

The Wizards at least have Hill, and with a superstar like Jordan, they can score in one-on-one situations.

Are we relying on Martin, who lacks ball-handling and offensive skills, or on Jefferson, who is in his second year?
That's like a dream.

If the Nets can't play the team basketball that Kidd leads, then the game is basically over.

Even more critically, Yao Ming still hadn't started playing. He only took one shot in the first half of the game, and it didn't go in.

The team's core player scored 0 points in half a quarter, but then dished out 2 assists.

If you didn't know better, you'd think Yao Ming was a point guard.

Upon returning from the timeout, Scott was surprised to find that the Knicks made a tactical change despite the Nets being behind.

Billups was substituted early, and Demar Johnson was brought on.

Even Houston was substituted out and replaced with Kadrick Brown.

Scott said he didn't understand this tactical change.

Hoping to limit Kidd by relying on DeMar Johnson's height?
This kid is tall enough, he's as tall as Martin.

But Kidd's strength isn't offense.

This season he scored a career high, but his field goal percentage was a paltry 37 percent.

His strengths lie in defense and connecting with his teammates.

Is the Knicks trying to limit Kidd's passing by using height?
No sooner had the idea in mind than Kidd dribbled past Demar Johnson and delivered a brilliant pass to Kittles on the perimeter, who scored.

Scott crossed his arms.

He didn't see anything particularly remarkable about Carlisle's substitution.

Furthermore, the Knicks' operations even encountered some problems because of Billups' departure.

The Nets managed to close the gap to a few points.

This is practically a self-inflicted blow by replacing someone.

Just then, Yao Ming started the game.

He positioned himself in the low post, received the ball, and then pushed Collins to the vicinity of the basket with a post-up move.

He turned and made a quick hook shot, which hit the target.

In the next possession, from almost the same position, he pushed forward with a post-up move, faked out Collins, and then cut inside for a layup.

Expecting Collins to stop Yao Ming is simply wishful thinking.

In three rounds, Yao Ming scored 6 points in a row, instantly stabilizing the situation.

At this moment, Scott vaguely understood.

Carlisle's substitution seems to be... a training exercise?
They simply wanted to change personnel and let the two benchwarmers experience the atmosphere of the playoffs.
Upon considering this possibility, Scott's face turned from dark to red.

A strong sense of shame welled up inside me.

What a shame!

We're having a serious competition here, and you're just using us for training?
Is it because you don't usually have time to conduct training sessions?

Or is it simply that he looks down on the Nets?

He coldly waved his hand, signaling to double-team Yao Ming.

He glanced at Carlisle on the sidelines and said, "You'll regret looking down on the Nets."

The double-teaming was effective immediately, but Yao Ming's passing was also extremely lethal.

After noticing Martin coming to double-team him, Yao Ming consciously moved away from the basket.

Even from this position, he still has offensive capabilities. Without double-teaming, he can simply turn and lean back for a shot.

When Martin comes over to double-team, there will be opportunities under the basket.

Swift's thunderous tomahawk dunk ignited the passion of the New York fans in the stands.

Not finished yet.

Yao Ming flicked his wrist, sending the basketball straight to the corner.

Kadrick Brown curled out and made a three-pointer with ease.

His technological development is three-tenths.

This offensive surge quickly widened the gap to 7 points.

Scott gritted his teeth until they were shattered.

Doesn't this mean that even without their starters, the Knicks can't beat the Nets?

And the Knicks' offense isn't over yet.

It took Prince a little over half a quarter to get used to Jefferson's defensive intensity, and then he started to exert his strength.

He holds the ball on the wing for a one-on-one attack, feigns a drive, quickly performs a behind-the-back dribble, slides to the left, pulls up and throws the ball.

With a significant sliding step and an awkward left-handed release point, Jefferson's tackle was completely ineffective.

Prince landed a solid hit, and now it's his turn again in the next round.

He initiated the movement with a slide step, and just as Jefferson lunged at him, he executed a crossover dribble, bursting in from Jefferson's left side.

He has a similar build to Kittles, with narrow shoulders, making it easier for him to cut inside when driving to the basket.

The throw went in again.

Townsend has always conveyed the idea to all players that a threatening shot is essential for a more effective drive to the basket.

Therefore, Prince's ability to break through is not bad.

Before the game, Carlisle encouraged everyone, saying that when they were in a good mood, they should attack more, and it was okay to play a little selfishly.

As long as you score points.

At that moment, Prince found his rhythm.

Like Billups, Yao Ming also had the awareness to actively help screen for whoever was having a good shooting touch.

He set a screen and blocked Jefferson.

Prince, who had circled out, received the ball, stopped abruptly, and scored again.

They scored 6 points in a row.

Not finished yet.

In the latter part of the first quarter, Prince took over the game, starting with the simplest slide step and combining it with a jump shot, scoring 8 points in one go.

The Knicks barely played in Houston, yet still managed to score a high of 31 points in the first quarter.

Scott was completely devastated.

In the first quarter, they lost by 13 points.

So how do we fight next?
Amidst the triumphant cheers of the New York fans, the Knicks turned the game into garbage time in just over three quarters.

112-89, a 23-point victory over the Nets.

After the game, a New York reporter, in a rather pointed manner, asked Scott a blunt question.

They said your Nets have always touted themselves as a team team, saying that you don't have a single player averaging more than 20 points per game, yet you still managed to reach the top of the Eastern Conference.

So what should we say today?

Yao Ming scored 16 points, Houston scored 12 points, Prince scored 18 points...

The Knicks had a total of eight players score in double figures.

So who truly embodies the spirit of team basketball?

(End of this chapter)