Basketball: The Path to the Extraordinary

At a crucial moment, the veteran players made a mistake in their attack – when Marcus Simmons passed the ball to Dwight Lewis, Lian Dao perfectly anticipated the pass.

Having learned from their previous mistakes, the veteran players quickly regrouped and strengthened their defense.

Realizing the chances of a quick counterattack were slim, he quickly passed the ball to Donte Smith.

Immediately, Lian Dao made a decisive sprint, completed a pick-and-roll with his teammate, and finally found an open shot for a three-pointer.

Donte Smith noticed the open space in the lane and this time he chose to pass the ball directly to it.

As Lian Dao prepared to shoot a three-pointer, Gibson quickly stepped forward to interfere, disrupting his rhythm. Lian Dao quickly adjusted, made a shooting fake, dribbled past the defender, sidestepped, and then quickly released the ball, sinking the three-pointer.

The continuous scoring boosted the morale of the new team, prompting them to continue applying high-pressure defense against the veteran players.

Looking back at the game, Lian Dao was able to draw the defense's attention to the three-point line, which allowed DeRozan to score consecutively through effective pick-and-roll plays.

20:22, the freshmen team took the lead for the second time.

"You veterans actually got taught a lesson by the rookies—is that all you're capable of?" Tim stood up and shouted, trying to motivate his players.

NCAA coaches rarely display overt aggression, and Tim was no exception. Although his words were not harsh, they were powerful and inspiring the veteran players to refocus on both offense and defense.

Taj Gibson quickly received the ball and completed a dunk over Vucevic in the low post.

Vucevic is known for his scoring ability in the paint, but he needs to gain weight to improve his physicality and defensive capabilities.

Then, a precise pass from Lian Dao helped DeRozan sink a mid-range shot. DeRozan has a high mid-range shooting percentage, but his three-point shooting still needs improvement, which often leads to defenders focusing on his drives and mid-range attempts.

Given the increasing emphasis on outside scoring in professional leagues, DeRozan faces a challenging path.

The new players relied on Lian Dao's playmaking ability and three-point shooting, supplemented by DeRozan's mid-range shooting and penetration; while the veteran players utilized Gibson's defensive skills and rich experience.

This stalemate prevented either side from gaining a clear lead.

Having witnessed the fierce competition, Tim showed a satisfied expression.

With 45 seconds left in the game, Lian Dao dribbled the ball and launched one last attack. Instead of passing to Smith, he dribbled past the three-point line and precisely timed his shot.

Despite Lewis's all-out defense, Lian Dao still managed to create enough space through dribbling and made that crucial three-pointer.

"Whoosh!"

"Beautiful!" Tim cheered, applauding the three-pointer.

At 45:46, Lian Dao scored a basket to seal the victory, and the freshmen erupted in cheers.

Vucevic excitedly hugged Lian Dao, and Washington tried to pat him on the head, but Lian Dao instinctively pulled back, momentarily at a loss.

Washington, unconcerned, put his arm around Lian Dao's shoulder and joined the celebrations.

Despite lacking the experience of veterans, these newcomers symbolize hope—like college freshmen, they are easily satisfied and can be overjoyed by their achievements.

Tim allowed the freshmen a moment to celebrate, and specifically noted that Lian Dao's performance was unexpectedly outstanding.

"Get down!" Assistant coach Jim Thea blew his whistle sharply. Besides head coach Tim Floyd, the basketball team also had strength and conditioning coach Bob Cantu—a handsome young white man.

"Lewis, is your head filled with cotton? You rush in without even looking at your teammates. Simmons, where's your passing? Even Shaq's grandma could pass better than you! DeMar, do you think you're Kobe? They're about to surround you, and you're still dribbling aimlessly. And Vucevic—with such a long name, is he made of paper? He floats away at the slightest touch." Tim's criticism was merciless, except for his leniency towards captain Gibson, whom he considered the best player after four years with Troy. "Sicker, your defense is too soft; you can't expect your teammates to clean up your messes during the game."

After speaking, Tim gestured for Jim and Bob to come to the sidelines with him. The three gathered around and discussed and developed an intensive training plan. With more than two months until the next game, making the most of this time might allow them to elevate the team's cohesion to a new level.

After a short break, Tim distributed the meticulously prepared training plan to all the players. The Troy coaching staff had a thorough understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the team's experienced players and adjusted the training focus accordingly. Recent adjustments primarily targeted Lian Dao, DeRozan, and Vucevic.

The transition from high school leagues to the NCAA, and even higher levels of leagues, requires adherence to rigorous player selection and training standards. These standards begin with a systematic middle school curriculum and gradually extend into high school and college.

Top NCAA programs such as the University of North Carolina, Duke University, Georgetown University, and the University of Kansas have reached professional league standards in terms of coaching and resources, and offer advanced training methods.

Lian Dao's initial desire to join a prestigious university team like the University of Southern California was not accidental, but the benefits these teams offered—full scholarships, insurance, and nutritional support—made them extremely attractive to talented high school players.

Contrary to popular belief, colleges generate huge profits from basketball through jersey sales, ticket revenue sharing, and tournament income, even though players don't receive salaries like professional athletes.

进入NCAA「疯狂三月」（即前64强赛）的球队每年为学校创造超过2000万美元的收入，前32强球队的收入超过4000万美元，而最终四强球队的收入超过1亿美元。

Tim emphasizes fundamental skills in his training program and customizes training courses based on individual strengths and physical qualities.

At this stage, Lian Dao prioritizes improving his strength and speed—crucial for his small forward position—to enhance his agility, defensive capabilities, and first-step acceleration, thus enabling him to break through more effectively.

His goal has always been clear: to develop into a versatile "3D" player, skilled in passing, ball control, and defense.

In addition to the team's prescribed training, the Liandao system also has unused training rewards, which can improve training efficiency and effectiveness, especially in strength training.

To avoid overexposure, Liandao strives to optimize training without being used as a test subject.