บท 9: The Arrival of March Madness!
Wade wasn't obsessed with victory to the point of madness like Kobe Bryant, but losing a one-on-one match to Wang Chong still didn't sit well with him. After all, Wang Chong had previously been a blue-collar player on the team; he wasn't even a match for most of his teammates, let alone Wade.
Just a month ago, Wang Chong was dismissed as a mere role player. Now, having beaten Wade in a one-on-one game, Wade found it hard to accept.
Determined to rectify this, Wade immediately challenged Wang Chong to another one-on-one match.
Wang Chong was in for a tough time.
The coach's assessment had been accurate: Wade's loss had been due to overconfidence and underestimation. When Wade focused and played seriously, Wang Chong had no chance.
Wade's current ability rating was close to 80, while Wang Chong's was only 65. The gap in their basketball experience was also significant. Apart from exploiting his height and wingspan to score mid-range shots against the shorter Wade, Wang Chong had no effective means of scoring.
When Wade adjusted his defense, using tricks like positioning his calf to block Wang Chong's moves and using his elbow to impede Wang Chong's strength, Wang Chong found it extremely difficult to even get within mid-range shooting distance.
The result was predictable. In the second game, Wade defeated Wang Chong 11:2. In the third game, it was 11:4, and then 11:0…
By the second game, Wang Chong had already realized the vast difference between him and Wade. This gap wasn't just in ability ratings but also encompassed technical skills and game experience.
The system could provide him with Kevin Durant's growth template, granting him improved abilities, but skills and experience—elements of game awareness—could not be directly acquired.
In similar situations, experienced players and novices make entirely different decisions, leading to varying outcomes.
Before his transmigration, Wang Chong was merely a basketball enthusiast who occasionally played but mostly engaged in analyzing and commenting on games on sports websites. Consequently, there was a significant gap between him and Wade in terms of experience and game awareness.
Fortunately, this issue could be addressed. Wang Chong could learn through watching game footage, participating in matches, or even through practice sessions with players like Wade. He could quickly acquire useful experience.
The speed of learning and understanding the game was reflected in the system's data panel under the "Offensive Awareness" attribute. This attribute directly affected a player's basketball IQ, their ability to understand, read, and learn from the game.
Durant's offensive awareness was top-notch, with a ceiling of 98—one of the highest in NBA history. Only a few, like Jordan, Kobe, and Kareem, had offensive awareness at the perfect score of 99.
Currently, Wang Chong's offensive awareness was 74, which was relatively high for NCAA standards. He was a quick learner, and once he grasped key points, he could rapidly master new skills.
In the following days, Wang Chong practiced one-on-one games with Wade whenever he had free time, honing his offensive skills. Wade was more than willing to oblige. Having been in an invincible state in the team, playing against Wang Chong, though he still had a gap in skills, was refreshing. It provided Wade with some pressure, and he was happy to engage in these practice games.
However, Wang Chong had limited time for growth. The NCAA Tournament was approaching, with the first round of elimination games starting soon:
March 15-16: The First Four, where several teams would compete for the final spots in the 64-team bracket.
March 17-18: The First Round, where the field would be reduced from 64 to 32.
March 19-20: The Second Round, cutting down the teams to the Sweet 16.
March 24-25: The Elite Eight.
March 27-29: The Final Four.
Early April: The Championship game to determine the NCAA champion.
A few days later, the Marquette University team boarded the bus, embarking on their journey through March Madness.
The First Round of the NCAA Tournament received relatively less attention compared to later rounds. With 64 teams participating, only a few players had the potential to make it to the NBA. Most scouts and reporters focused on top prospects like Carmelo Anthony, the frontrunner for the 2003 NBA Draft, and Chris Kaman, a highly regarded center from the 2003 class.
Before March Madness, Wade was only somewhat well-known. Marquette wasn't a traditional powerhouse, and Wade, a junior with a history of injuries, wasn't highly regarded by scouts.
Wade's selection by the Miami Heat with the fifth pick in the NBA Draft was largely due to his incredible performance during March Madness. Leading his relatively unknown team, Wade overcame all odds, including defeating the heavily favored Kentucky Wildcats in the Elite Eight. Wade's extraordinary performance, with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, earned him significant recognition and impressed Pat Riley, resulting in his high draft pick.
Without his stellar performance in March Madness, Wade might not have even entered the lottery picks, given the emphasis NBA teams place on age and potential.
The day before the tournament, reporters came to interview Wade, and NBA scouts sought him out for discussions, making Marquette's other players envious. Only a few players in the NCAA were destined to enter the NBA, and Wade's success was notable.
Wang Chong aspired to replicate Wade's path. Aiming to enter the 2003 Draft like Wade, he was currently an unknown player. To gain visibility, he needed to make a mark during March Madness.
If Wang Chong performed impressively, his age and inherent talent would attract scouts. With the potential to stand out, Wang Chong was confident that he could catch the attention of professional scouts and secure a spot in the 2003 Draft.
He was currently using Durant's growth template, and even though players like Anthony and Wade might have stronger immediate abilities, Wang Chong's future potential was promising. In the 2003 draft class, apart from LeBron James, few could match his potential.
End of this chapter
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