Capítulo 18: Teacher Tony
The upper management had a meeting yesterday to find a player with explosive offensive abilities, someone who could completely open up the court. At that time, Hollins recommended this JIANG for a tryout.
In the recent losses, the Grizzlies scored below 90 points in all games. The fans were fed up with low-scoring, lackluster games, so they came up with this tryout method to find a super scorer!
It didn't matter if this player wasn't good at defense; the Grizzlies had enough excellent defenders to cover for him. What they needed was someone with the scoring prowess of Arenas, Baron Davis, or Monta Ellis!
The answer was right in front of them!! Moreover, he was an international player, and the best thing about international players is that they don't hog the ball too much... But really, they shouldn't play recklessly.
At this moment, Conley gulped and prepared for the third ball. Jiang Lin's triple threat stance was already giving him a headache. This guy wasn't just playing streetball; he was too refined and agile!
However, Jiang Lin was now fully enjoying himself. When he received the pass, he didn't steady himself in a triple threat stance. Instead, he directly tossed the ball over Conley's head, catching it behind his back!
Pure streetball technique: Boomerang!
"Fxxk!!" This pure streetball show made the players on the sidelines stand up immediately. This is the charm of streetball; a single successful show move can trigger cheers and resonance.
And it wasn't over yet. After catching the ball, Jiang Lin did a left-handed wrist flick, looking at the hoop. Conley rushed over to prevent another jump shot.
However, Jiang Lin hadn't even taken a step yet. As Conley leaped, Jiang Lin quickly sidestepped, speeding past him for a windmill dunk!
Stutter-step!
A pause followed by an explosive move, commonly used to initiate a drive!
Completely blew past him!!
Gay and the others were stunned, covering their faces in shock!
The players on the sidelines were ecstatic. Gasol and the others were bouncing and hugging each other like they were watching TV.
"Oh, my god!" The 30-something owner rushed onto the court, shouting, "My God!"
Heavens! Using a guard's moves to blow past an NBA starting point guard standing at 6'1". The wide boomerang and subsequent feints, followed by the explosive dunk, were just magnificent!
As graceful and natural as water.
"This is basketball!"
"Amazing!" Randolph, the brute, was full of envy. Compared to his rough, bruising play inside, he finally understood why everyone loved watching guards play!
Conley protested to the assistant coach refereeing the game, asking if the move was a double dribble. He was too tense, and from a defender's perspective, the boomerang seemed like a carry...
The assistant coach ruled no violation. If you use this move in an official game, no one would call it. It's just a matter of whether you dare to use it!
Rudy Gay wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, "Thank God he didn't use those moves on me, or I'd feel like a woman walking down the street at midnight with no clothes on, completely exposed..."
3-0.
Conley reluctantly stepped off, glancing around. Fortunately, there were no reporters or fans around. If this got out, it'd be humiliating. Getting toyed with by a rookie guard 11 cm taller than him? What a black mark on his record!
This style of play was almost extinct in the NBA now!
Jiang Lin scored another clean sweep. Only one opponent remained.
The assistant coaches couldn't believe it. They had set up this tryout to make the rookie showcase all his skills, but Jiang Lin was making it look too easy.
Even if he didn't win, they wouldn't just send him packing. There was a Plan B, after all. Hollins rarely directly named a player he wanted; otherwise, they wouldn't have rushed this tryout.
But he was about to pull it off.
Tony Allen, originally not expected to be a challenge, had the weakest offense of the three. But now everyone was eager to see if this perennial All-Defensive Team member could stop this Chinese player!
Even if just once!
Tony Allen squatted into a deep stance, muscles bulging.
Jiang Lin received the ball, facing an intensely focused Tony Allen. This fierce defender, nicknamed "Tony Teacher" by fans, had stifled the shooting percentages of stars like Kobe, Durant, and Manu in the playoffs.
"I don't know much about offense, but you won't understand defense," was Tony's famous line.
Unfortunately, that didn't apply to Jiang Lin. Teaching a lesson? Not a chance!
Jiang Lin wasn't afraid of close defense. As long as he had dribbling space, close defense was the biggest mistake.
For the first point, Jiang Lin started dribbling sideways. Tony Allen forcefully blocked him, not letting him move inside an inch. His solid defense felt like hitting a wall. Trying to outmuscle him was pointless.
However, Jiang Lin's style was like Tai Chi, using minimal force to achieve maximum effect. He stepped back, created space with a scissors move, and when Tony Allen closed in with quick steps, Jiang Lin swiftly spun around him like a top.
Then he accelerated, with Tony Allen chasing him. Jiang Lin used a behind-the-back fake shot, sending Allen flying, then laid it up and in!
"Damn, I give up." The players watching went from silent to standing within minutes.
"I'm done too. He just shook off our Allen like that?"
"That spin move is almost as fast as last year's number one pick, Kyrie!"
"I think it's more elegant, with better rhythm."
"Stop talking, I want to see him and Kyrie go one-on-one!"
"That depends on who gets the ball first."
After making the shot, Jiang Lin glanced at his hand. His touch was impeccable.
The move was clean. Many later added extra steps to this up-and-under move, calling it the "Soma Step." The thought of it made Jiang Lin sick. That move ruined streetball courts, with everyone trying to use it without mastering the basics. It was really dumb.
For the second point, Tony Allen wiped his hands and continued to press. Jiang Lin used a step-back crossover, butterfly dribble, and finally shook off the tenacious defender with a quick scoop shot.
Getting tired!
A split-second delay would result in a turnover!
Tony Allen's defense was always in your face, using various tactics to disrupt your dribble—hand waving, arm movement, and small steps…
He didn't aim to steal the ball but to throw off your rhythm.
Fortunately, Jiang Lin's quick dribble steps and Stockton's ankle strength enabled him to pull off moves that even shook LeBron!
The spectators were enthralled, noticing Jiang Lin seemed to be exerting more effort against Tony Teacher!
"Don't kid yourselves. He was going all out against me too!" Gay shouted.
For the third point, Jiang Lin used the "God's Hand" crossover, followed by a big crossover. This wouldn't easily beat a player like Tony Allen, but a Sam Gold crossover sealed the deal, shifting direction instantly. One step into the paint, three steps, and a layup!
3-0!
Overall score: 3-0!
"You won." Tony Allen, drenched in sweat, couldn't believe that his meticulously studied defense had been breached by an unknown rookie who scored three times in a row!
"Impressive!"
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