章 43: The Second Showdown Between Wang Chong and Anthony is Truly Different
Guys there is already content on patreon, if anyone wants to become a genin or chunin.
I will start editing the new novel Warriors Godfather, in which I will change the name and nationality of the MC, I will change parts of the story.
patreon.com/Chuga320
————————————————————————————————————————————
The Lakers' center won the jump ball, and the Lakers gained possession.
The team's point guard, without even dribbling past half court, impatiently passed the ball to Wang Chong.
Everyone on the court understood very well that there were only two protagonists in today's game: Wang Chong and Anthony. All the others were supporting roles. Anyone who dared to take the spotlight would probably find themselves out of the lineup in the next game.
In fact, during the summer league, a team's lineup could undergo drastic changes from one game to the next. The coach decided whether a player continued playing based on their performance. After all, during the summer league, teams weren't worried about finding players. Plenty of unemployed free agents gathered here, hoping to be signed to short-term contracts by teams looking to fill their rosters.
It's normal for a team to replace four or five players in one day in the summer league.
Therefore, players who got a chance to play usually cherished the opportunity. Not only did they try to showcase their best on the court, but they also demonstrated stronger discipline and followed the coach's instructions. After all, no coach dislikes a player who always obeys his commands.
Just like now, when the Lakers' assistant coach saw the point guard immediately pass the ball to Wang Chong, a slight smile appeared on his face.
Although the point guard's behavior wasn't enough to leave a lasting impression on the coach, it at least didn't upset him because of "excessive" ball-hogging, and that was enough.
After receiving the ball, Wang Chong took two steps forward and reached the three-point line. Standing in front of him was Anthony.
Anthony was still a bit confused.
During Wang Chong's time in the NCAA, he always played center. Although Anthony was responsible for guarding him in the finals, how could Wang Chong switch from playing an inside position to an outside position in just two months?
Anthony couldn't figure it out, and he hadn't watched Wang Chong's recent games. During the draft process, Anthony's main focus was on his biggest rival, LeBron James. How could he have time to pay attention to a small character like Wang Chong?
Even now, Anthony still believed that a player like Wang Chong, who primarily played as a center, couldn't possibly have solid fundamentals as a small forward.
"Kid, I'm going to drop 40 points on you today! No Dwyane to protect you this time."
Looking at Wang Chong holding the ball and facing him, Anthony didn't hesitate to taunt.
Wang Chong just smiled at this.
His current abilities were far superior to what they used to be. If Anthony continued with such talk, it would have no impact on him at all.
Wang Chong's calf muscles tensed, and he burst forward instantly with incredible speed.
Anthony was caught off guard, reacting too slowly as he watched Wang Chong blow past him.
"So fast!"
Anthony's pupils narrowed slightly. Wang Chong's speed was so astonishing that it was hard to believe. The burst of speed he displayed in that instant was even a notch faster than Anthony's. Though Anthony was not known for his speed and was inferior to the likes of Wade, James, and other masters of penetration, his driving ability was still quite strong.
Anthony was naturally surprised that Wang Chong could be faster than him. Two months ago, in the finals, Wang Chong did not possess this kind of speed.
He immediately turned to chase and defend, but Wang Chong, after passing him with just one step, took only two more steps before stopping abruptly, raising his hand, and jumping for a shot.
Anthony, who was right beside Wang Chong, instinctively raised his hand to contest the shot, but he quickly realized that his attempt was in vain.
Anthony has a standard small forward build, standing at 2.03 meters with a wingspan of 2.13 meters. His physical attributes are not particularly exceptional in the NBA, and he's not known for having a long reach.
But even at his height, defending Wang Chong was no easy task. Wang Chong's height is a major advantage. Additionally, after being equipped with Durant's shooting mechanics, his release point became exceptionally high, making it tough to contest his shot head-on.
Swish!
With almost zero interference, Wang Chong drained the shot. The ball made a crisp sound as it swished through the net.
Seeing this, the Los Angeles Lakers fans on the sidelines erupted in applause and cheers.
Facing Carmelo Anthony, the third overall pick in this year's draft, Wang Chong showed no signs of weakness and easily scored over him. How could the Lakers fans not be thrilled?
This was a direct face-off between the third overall pick and the thirteenth overall pick. Forget having the upper hand—if Wang Chong could even match up against Anthony, it would be a huge win for the Lakers!
"Aren't you going to drop 40 points on me? I'm waiting," Wang Chong said calmly, glancing at Anthony after scoring.
Anthony's expression darkened. He went straight to the baseline to receive the ball and dribbled up the court himself, not letting the point guard do it for him.
The tone of this game was set from the beginning as Anthony vs. Wang Chong, so it was only natural for the two to face off directly.
When Wang Chong attacked, Anthony defended. When Anthony attacked, Wang Chong naturally guarded him.
Having faced each other in the NCAA finals, Anthony knew that although Wang Chong had an advantage in height and wingspan, and his long arms were indeed troublesome, Wang Chong wasn't particularly strong at taking physical contact. Anthony could easily handle the physical battle.
Thus, on this possession, Anthony didn't use any fancy moves. He simply accelerated with the ball, attempting to overpower Wang Chong with his strength advantage.
Seeing this, Wang Chong did not dodge or retreat but instead squared his chest and stepped forward to meet Anthony.
Bang!
At the moment of impact, both players shook violently.
Wang Chong couldn't help but take two steps back, and Anthony's momentum also slowed down.
At first glance, Wang Chong seemed to be at a disadvantage in the power confrontation.
But Anthony's eyes widened in shock, staring at Wang Chong in disbelief.
"How is this possible?"
During that brief contact, Anthony had intended to overpower Wang Chong outright, but Wang Chong's strength was far beyond his expectations. Although Wang Chong was at a slight disadvantage, he successfully stopped Anthony's momentum, which suggested that the power gap between them wasn't that wide.
But how was this possible?
During the NCAA finals, Wang Chong was no match for Anthony in terms of strength and was easily overpowered. How could his strength have increased so much in just over two months?
Anthony, completely unprepared, nearly lost his balance. He had to hastily use both hands to protect the ball and regain his footing. With his dribble dead, he was forced to shoot.
But Wang Chong, who had not backed off too far, quickly stepped up to contest the shot.
At this point, the difference in physical attributes became evident.
When Wang Chong shoots, Anthony can't do much to defend it, but when Anthony shoots and Wang Chong contests, it feels like a giant wall is blocking his way. To avoid getting blocked, Anthony had to increase his shooting angle. While he managed to avoid the block, the excessively high arc resulted in a missed shot.
End of this chapter
Note: I will continue uploading as promised 4-5 chapters every day until 100, after 100 1-2 per day, with stones, reviews, and collections I will upload more don't worry.
クリエイターの想い 
Chugamc
Chugamc Hi guys this is Chuga. If you read this far and liked it you can leave comments, stones and reviews which is very important for a new translator / author.
Love you.
patreon.com/Chuga320
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット