Basketball: The Path to the Extraordinary

"Your three-point shooting is getting better and better, but I won't let you score next time!"

As DeRozan spoke, he passed the ball to Lian Dao and quickly adjusted his defensive position, blocking Lian Dao's shooting space.

Lian Dao didn't respond, but his expression remained focused. He had coached countless top basketball players in his early years, and his understanding of the game was already unparalleled. DeRozan was exceptionally talented, but the players Lian Dao had trained were far more skilled than he was now—many of them had already shown their talent before entering the professional league.

He dribbled the ball forward to the three-point line and began to make precise changes of direction.

The basketball danced gracefully in his hands like an elusive sprite.

DeRozan carefully observed Lian Dao's skillful dribbling, deeply impressed by his opponent's fluid movements. Nevertheless, he was determined not to give Lian Dao any opportunity to break through his defense.

"This guy's dribbling skills are on another level—not to mention college leagues, he wouldn't be inferior even in the professional leagues." DeRozan muttered to himself as he intensified his defense, trying to compress the dribbling space in the lane and force him to make a mistake.

DeRozan has been known for his excellent defensive skills since high school. He stepped up and pressed the lane, hoping to disrupt the dribble and steal the ball.

Despite DeRozan's close pressure, Lian Dao remained calm and seized the opportunity. As DeRozan closed in, Lian Dao quickly passed the ball between his legs, then took a step forward and used a skillful behind-the-back dribble to get rid of his opponent.

DeRozan was caught off guard and tried to chase back, but Lian Dao didn't stop. He quickly stepped back, creating enough space for a shot. DeRozan lost his balance and reacted a beat too slow, allowing Lian Dao to jump decisively and launch a three-pointer.

Swish.

The ball went into the net.

Score: 2-0.

DeRozan was both confused and somewhat incredulous.

"Am I being played? Isn't this dribbling style more suitable for guards? This guy is 2.03 meters tall and dribbles so smoothly—it's so unfair."

DeRozan's admiration for the double-dribble technique quickly turned into frustration.

"Don't even think about scoring again!" DeRozan muttered, feeling a little embarrassed that an opponent of similar height had scored in this way.

Lian Dao did not let up and continued the attack.

He dribbled the ball again to the three-point line. Although he's not short, his long wingspan allows him to maintain a low center of gravity even when dribbling with a bent-over stance. His skills were honed during his high school years in New York and Los Angeles.

DeRozan was eager to find an opportunity to steal the ball, but he was unable to do so.

Suddenly, Lian Dao dribbled the ball with his right foot as a pivot, feinting a shot with his shoulder and head, causing DeRozan to instinctively tense up. In a flash, Lian Dao dribbled past his opponent, striding straight for the basket, assuming a layup stance.

DeRozan reacted quickly, leaping high and extending his right hand to try and block from behind.

Lian Dao had anticipated the defense, adjusted his body in mid-air, quickly pulled the ball to the other side, dodged DeRozan's block, and completed a smooth reverse layup.

DeRozan slammed his hand on the backboard in frustration.

Score: 3-0.

The first goal caught DeRozan off guard.

But the next two goals were a perfect display of skill and strategy.

Although Lian Dao is not as physically gifted as DeRozan, he possesses a wealth of experience accumulated over the years, which DeRozan cannot currently match.

Years of experience as a trainer honed Lian Dao's instincts and tactical awareness, making up for his physical shortcomings.

"It was as easy for me to walk past you as crossing the street in the morning," Lian Dao joked, interrupting DeRozan's concentration.

DeRozan's face darkened.

"Don't get too cocky, it's only 3-0."

In the fourth round, Lian Dao prepared to create space again by dribbling from a long distance.

This time, DeRozan anticipated it in advance.

As soon as Lian Dao started dribbling, DeRozan quickly moved laterally, sticking close to him and disrupting his rhythm.

Although DeRozan was not yet the "King of the North" at that time, his physical attributes were already quite outstanding.

Lian Dao found himself tightly marked, and DeRozan's physical defense noticeably intensified.

This was a challenge he had rarely encountered before.

He dribbled behind his back, made a fake breakthrough move, and created some distance between himself and DeRozan.

Suddenly, near the free-throw line, he abruptly stopped, pulled the ball back between his legs, and faked a shot.

DeRozan instinctively jumped up, trying to interfere with the shot.

But Lian Dao quickly retreated to the three-point line, lowered his center of gravity, and took a shot.

Swish!

DeRozan flew past him, unable to stop the shot.

Score: 4-0.

This goal left DeRozan feeling somewhat helpless—it seemed too easy.

DeRozan adjusted his mindset, passed the ball back to Liandao, and signaled to continue.

The final round.

He dribbled the ball towards the outside, retreating step by step, leaving DeRozan unable to guess his intentions.

He retreated to the vicinity of midcourt and suddenly pulled up for a shot.

DeRozan was caught off guard by this sudden move. He had never encountered this style of play before and had no time to react.

Normally, a three-pointer in the halftime is a desperate gamble when there's not much time left—but in a one-on-one situation, who would expect such a bold shot?

Lian Dao and DeRozan watched as the long-range three-pointer flew out of Lian Dao's hand, closely tracking its trajectory.

The ball flew through the air, and different expressions appeared on the faces of the two players.

An excited expression slowly crept onto Lian Dao's face.

DeRozan wore a wry smile.

The ball seemed to linger in the air for a long time, tracing a beautiful arc as it flew across most of the court before landing cleanly in the net.

Swish!

The score is 5-0, the game is over.

Lian Dao won the one-on-one duel.

[Congratulations, host, on completing the mission. The reward has been sent to your system space and can be claimed at any time.] The system notification stated.

Lian Dao immediately claimed the reward. He first equipped the Sprint Speed ​​talent, raising the cap from 54 to 64.

In the system space, he saw 20 small blue bottles labeled "Training Endurance Recovery Potion". These potions were used to quickly recover physical strength during high-intensity training. Although they were not very useful in actual competitions, they were better than nothing.

Lian Dao was satisfied with the rewards and logged out of the system after counting them.

DeRozan stood on the court, staring in disbelief at the shot he had just made. It took him a while to recover, and then he turned to Lian Dao with a serious expression.

"You've improved so much. This victory is well-deserved. Your growth has truly amazed me. I look forward to fighting alongside you. Let's work together and make USC history this year!" DeRozan said sincerely.

"Champion?" Lian Dao smiled and raised his fist.

DeRozan grinned, revealing his white teeth. He bumped fists with Lian Dao, their shoulders lightly touching as a sign of friendliness.

In the three or four months leading up to the NCAA season, USC faced a crucial window of opportunity—they needed to refine their tactics and strengthen team cohesion. As DeRozan and Lian Dao exchanged hopeful glances and high-fived each other, they also gradually realized just how formidable the challenges ahead would be. The dream of winning the NCAA basketball championship for USC seemed within reach, but it required meticulous planning and relentless effort.

Having just defeated DeRozan, the Lian Dao soldiers were in high spirits and their determination had doubled. "We must seize every moment," he said, his eyes gleaming with ambition.

NCAA rules are clear, but USC, like many other top teams, will fully utilize every advantage allowed within those rules to strive for victory. Closed training sessions have become the norm, allowing teams to fine-tune their rosters and improve their skills away from the public eye. As the official training season approaches, expectations are rising.

The University of Southern California launched a comprehensive training program during the semester break.