Chương 7: Veterans vs. Freshmen: Experience vs. Raw Talent
The veteran team initially asserted their dominance over the freshmen, leveraging their experience and seamless teamwork despite perhaps having slightly less raw talent than their opponents.
On offense, Donte Smith called for a pick-and-roll with Lian Dao, aiming to exploit his speed. Smith darted towards the basket but encountered immediate resistance.
Finding himself open outside the arc, Lian Dao attempted a deep shot, unaware of the space behind him. His attempt was swatted away by Keith Wilkinson, but Lian Dao quickly recovered the ball.
With Dwight Lewis focusing on defense closer to the basket, Lian Dao seized the opportunity and swiftly launched a three-pointer from just beyond the arc.
"Swish."
Lewis, caught off guard by the unexpected shot, was too late to contest effectively. His positioning and reaction were a step behind, leaving him unable to disrupt Lian Dao's quick release.
Tim, observing from the sidelines, was momentarily taken aback by the shot's distance and speed. He recalled footage of Lian Dao's high school games, where such deep shots and rapid releases were not as prevalent.
The familiarity struck Tim as he recognized the style reminiscent of the little guy at Davidson's 3-point shooting prowess from the previous season, which had made waves in the tournament.
Lian Dao's three-pointer edged the freshmen team ahead by a single point.
As the scrimmage intensified, Marcus Simmons responded with a confident three-pointer from the perimeter, matching the freshman team's earlier score.
Meanwhile, on the freshman side, DeMar DeRozan took charge, driving towards the basket only to find himself closely guarded by Gibson. Undeterred, he executed a graceful fadeaway jumper.
"Bang."
The move was reminiscent of Kobe Bryant's signature style, though the shot fell short, hitting the front of the rim. Veteran Keith Wilkinson capitalized on the opportunity, blocking out Leonard Washington and allowing Marcus Johnson to snatch the rebound. Johnson swiftly initiated a fast break with a precise long pass to Marcus Simmons, who completed an uncontested layup.
As the game progressed, the veteran team's experience and cohesion enabled them to assert control over the court. Despite Lian Dao's current limitations in physical play, his remarkable 223cm wingspan and strategic positioning compensated to some extent.
Lian Dao's defensive approach was astute. When guarding Dwight Lewis, he anticipated attacks through the body, positioning himself to disrupt shots with his extended reach. If Lewis attempted an outside shot, Lian Dao's hands were poised to intervene at chest height.
By halftime, the scoreboard read 20:9, favoring the veteran team.
At a critical moment, Lian Dao seized a rebound and decided not to rely on the point guard for ball distribution. Donte Smith, however, still preferred passing to DeRozan despite Lian Dao's earlier three-pointer. Frustrated by DeRozan being tightly marked by the veterans, Lian Dao took matters into his own hands.
Crossing the three-point line, Dwight Lewis aggressively moved in to pressure Lian Dao, banking on his perceived weakness in physical play. Unbeknownst to Lewis, Lian Dao possessed more than just shooting prowess—he had excellent dribbling skills too. In a swift move, Lewis attempted to steal the ball, but Lian Dao cleverly halted his momentum, causing Lewis to overshoot. Capitalizing on this moment, Lian Dao executed a smooth emergency stop, changed direction, and surged past his opponent with a decisive stride.
Lewis's attempted steal left him out of position, allowing Lian Dao a clear path to the basket. As Lian Dao prepared to shoot, Gibson swiftly closed in for the block. Sensing the impending defense, Lian Dao made a quick pass to Vucevic cutting along the baseline. The pass was perfectly timed, requiring no adjustment from Vucevic who effortlessly scored with a reverse layup.
After the play, Vucevic pointed excitedly at Lian Dao, offering him a thumbs-up. Lian Dao reciprocated with a high-five, both players visibly pleased with their execution.
Tim watched from the sidelines, a mix of excitement and surprise coursing through him as he witnessed Lian Dao's superb play unfold. He knew Lian Dao possessed a lethal three-point shot and solid dribbling skills, but what caught him off guard was Lian Dao's exceptional passing ability.
A well-executed pass demands keen court awareness, vision, and basketball IQ—qualities Tim hadn't seen in Lian Dao during his high school days. Back then, Lian Dao often found himself on the bench, limited opportunities skewing his game toward scoring rather than playmaking. Like many young players, he craved the applause that came with scoring, sometimes at the expense of better team strategies.
Now, with the wisdom of two lifetimes, Lian Dao understood the game at a deeper level. He knew when to shoot and when to pass, aligning his play with what the coach and team needed most. This critical pass and score not only ignited the freshman team's spirit but also showcased Lian Dao's growth and maturity.
Emboldened by their offensive success, Lian Dao intensified his defensive efforts. When Marcus Simmons attempted a pass, DeRozan intercepted it and quickly fed the ball to Lian Dao on a fast break. Despite Lian Dao's slower speed, he sensed Lewis closing in for a block. In a split-second decision, Lian Dao cleverly passed the ball behind his head, evading Lewis's reach just in time.
As the ball sailed toward DeRozan, he soared high, catching it at its apex and slamming down a thunderous tomahawk dunk over Lewis. The rim shuddered under the force of the impact, and Lewis, caught off guard by DeRozan's athleticism, sat stunned on the floor.
The spectacular dunk left the veteran players in awe. Lewis, mouth agape, forgot to react immediately, mesmerized by DeRozan's display of raw power and skill.
"This kid must have springs in his shoes!" Tim exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face as he marveled at the freshmen's resilience and talent.
Tim sprung up from the coach's bench, his admiration split between DeRozan's extraordinary athleticism and Lian Dao's emerging passing prowess. If the first assist was considered fortunate, this second one spoke volumes about Lian Dao's skill and innate talent. Lewis had closed off Lian Dao's vision from behind, leaving him blind to his teammates' positions—a scenario where only a top-tier passer could rely on keen court awareness to pinpoint his target accurately.
Lian Dao was proving himself to be exactly that kind of playmaker—an organizer with exceptional field vision, or one with the potential to evolve into one. This innate court insight, which is foundational for all elite playmakers, sets him apart. While passing skills can be honed through training, this intuitive understanding of the game is a testament to Lian Dao's natural talent.
Tim couldn't help but recognize that USC currently lacked a playmaker with such acute passing awareness. DeRozan, visibly pumped up by his dunk, exchanged a shoulder bump with Lian Dao on their way back to defend.
The scoreboard read 20:13.
After the freshmen settled into their rhythm, they swiftly executed a 4:0 run, narrowing the score to single digits.
Stepping up their defensive intensity, the freshmen forced Marcus Johnson to miss a layup. With his exceptional reach, Lian Dao leaped over Gibson to snatch the rebound cleanly.
Displaying his court vision, Lian Dao swiftly delivered a quarterback-like pass to Donte Smith streaking down the court. Smith caught the ball effortlessly in stride.
Then, seizing the moment, Smith impulsively decided to go for a dunk. His takeoff was graceful, with a hint of elegance in his posture.
But wait—what's this? Mid-air, Smith adjusted his approach, opting instead to bank the ball off the backboard for a score.
"Chapter 8: Freshmen Making Waves" Tim exclaimed from the sidelines, impressed by Smith's quick thinking and adaptability.
The scoreboard now showed a tighter margin, energizing the freshmen team.
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