Chương 77: Championship Ambitions
Lian Dao had just finished his call with his family and was filled with mixed emotions. Originally, he had wanted to invite his parents to watch the finals live. However, with only one day left before the big game, he felt it was too rushed to extend the invitation.
As he lay on the hotel bed, scrolling through the news on his mobile phone—still stuck in the pre-4G era, the sluggish web browsing dampened his mood. Suddenly, he realized it had been quite some time since the championship started, and he hadn't checked the points he earned for breaking three NCAA records: two three-pointer records and one quadruple-double record.
Calculating it out at 10,000 points per record, that totals 30,000 points.
As I logged into the system, I quickly verified my current total. Adding the 634 points left from last time and doubling the points for the round of 36, the grand total now stands at 32,097 points.
With points in hand, the next logical step was allocation.
Firstly, he decided to enhance his physical fitness. Anticipating a demanding match against North Carolina where he might play the entire game, he invested 10,000 points to raise his stamina level from 69 to 79.
Secondly, agility needed a boost. Recognizing its crucial role in ball control and defense, he allocated another 10,000 points to elevate dexterity from 69 to 79, consequently enhancing ball handling to 80 and defense to 82.
Thirdly, increasing sprint speed was essential for outmaneuvering opponents swiftly. Spending 10,000 points, he improved sprint speed from 79 to 80.
He reflected on the costliness of further improvements—each subsequent increase, from 80 to 84 and beyond, would require 10,000 points per value, with jumps from 84 to 89 commanding a steep 100,000 points. Accumulating these points would demand numerous competitions; achieving the 100,000 mark felt like a distant goal.
With only 2,097 points remaining, Lian Dao fell into contemplative silence.
"Status"
---------------
Host: Lian Dao
Position: Small Forward
Evaluation: 81 (A) NBA starting player strength.
Points: 2097
Currently included jerseys: 2
Birthday: 1990.12.15
Height: 204cm (205cm)
Wingspan: 223cm
Weight: 105kg
Bounce: 79 (94)
Strength: 86 (94)
Sprint Speed: 80 (89)
Lateral speed: 79 (91)
Dexterity: 79 (86)
Stamina: 79 (89)
Field of view: 86 (93)
Basketball IQ: 98
Skill Evaluation:
Ball Handling: 80 (84)
Passing: 79 (84)
Breakthroughs: 79 (86)
Finishing: 69 (87)
Mid-range shooting: 69 (85)
Three-point shooting: 90 (97)
Rebounding: 74 (93)
Defense: 82 (89)
Injury resistance: 93
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During this period, Lian Dao's abilities had improved slightly, mainly through the accumulation of points rather than any significant changes.
His overall rating had reached an A-level, equivalent to that of NBA starters!
After exiting the space, Lian Dao approached the assistant coach to obtain a video of the University of North Carolina game. Since both semi-finals took place on the same day and in the same arena, Lian Dao and his teammates had watched the game live.
Similarly, the University of North Carolina had observed USC's match against UConn!
North Carolina's opponents had capitulated early in their semi-final, so Lian Dao hadn't gleaned much from their performance in that game. Hence, he intended to thoroughly review all of North Carolina's previous championship games.
Truth be told, this year's North Carolina team was exceptionally formidable.
Their lineup included Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington, Ty Lawson, and Danny Green. They boasted potent perimeter shooting and robust defense. In their match against the Villanova Wildcats, they swiftly built a commanding lead with a barrage of outside shots.
Tyler Hansbrough, their starting center, stood out with his agility despite his size—measuring 2.06 meters tall and weighing 113 kilograms. His versatility in scoring and rebounding posed a significant challenge for opponents, evident in his 18 points and 11 rebounds against Villanova.
Reflecting on the upcoming challenge, Lian Dao prepared USC to face North Carolina. Unlike their swift defeat to Villanova, USC wouldn't surrender easily, even against such a formidable opponent.
As Lian Dao reviewed the game footage, he noted that Demar had yet to return. It appeared unlikely that he would be back tonight.
...
On the second day, the draft predictions underwent a notable change. ESPN now projected Lian Dao as the No. 2 pick in the first round, while TNT went further to place him at the top spot, making it the first time Lian Dao had surpassed Griffin in their predictions for the first pick.
However, Lian Dao remained realistic. He knew that if the Los Angeles Clippers retained the first pick this year, his chances of being selected as No. 1 were slim. The Clippers scouts had shown little interest in him, which was a significant factor in the draft process.
Shortly after Lian Dao woke up, Demar entered the room with a joyful expression on his face.
"Sickle, guess what? You've overtaken Griffin as the favorite!" Demar announced excitedly, standing by the door. To an onlooker, his excitement might have suggested he was the one in contention for the top pick.
But it was clear that Demar genuinely saw Lian Dao as a close friend.
"He hasn't forgotten about me while basking in his own glory!" Lian Dao thought, appreciating Demar's genuine camaraderie.
Demar also recognized the challenging odds for guards in this year's draft. DeMar was well aware that securing the top pick was out of reach for him. With a surplus of guards in this year's draft, the competition among them was exceptionally fierce.
Despite Lian Dao's stellar performance and his near-domination over Thabeet in their last game, the media still favored Thabeet as the third pick in the first round, underscoring the tough competition for guards.
Lian Dao smiled at Demar's comment. "It's a shame you didn't break into the top three this time."
Demar waved off Lian Dao's concern. "No worries, there's still a chance. Once we take down North Carolina in the next game, I'm sure we'll secure a top-three spot."
Lian Dao was encouraged by DeMar's optimism. "Absolutely. Let's focus on beating North Carolina. Winning the championship is within our grasp—why not us?"
"You didn't wear yourself out too much yesterday, did you?" Lian Dao suddenly voiced concern that Demar might have overindulged at the party.
"Hey, I only know how to step up and fight harder!" Demar replied with a sheepish grin, clearly still reliving the previous night's festivities with Lian Dao.
Swiftly changing the subject, Lian Dao steered away from further party details, knowing they could easily veer off course.
They turned their attention to tomorrow's game. They had just a day's rest before facing North Carolina in the final on April 6, conveniently held in the same venue.
Discussing North Carolina, both Lian Dao and Demar grew serious. Theoretically, beating North Carolina seemed unlikely given their formidable reputation. Yet, Southern California hadn't encountered a team stronger than themselves without putting up a fight.
They had reached this point through resilience, refusing to surrender simply because their opponents were tough. Instead, USC was more determined than ever to secure victory.
Despite the challenge, USC saw openings. They had a tactical ace up their sleeve—a strategy yet to be deployed on the court.
Throughout the season, USC had employed various tactics: 2-3 zone defense, fast breaks, low and high post plays. But hidden among these was the "elevator door" tactic, a strategic innovation attributed to future Warriors coach Mark Jackson.
The premise of the elevator door tactic was straightforward: it required a proficient pick-and-roll player and an elite three-point shooter.
Lian Dao had tested this tactic with Gibson and Vucevic in training, surprising Coach Tim with its effectiveness, thus keeping it under wraps until now.
While they'd rehearsed it extensively in practice, USC had never deployed it in an actual game. The tactic involved positioning two big men near the center line to screen for a sharpshooter sprinting out to the perimeter—akin to an elevator door closing swiftly, hence its name.
Southern California had the right pieces: both Gibson and Vucevic excelled in high pick-and-roll situations, and Lian Dao's accuracy from beyond the arc was lethal.
The Warriors had used a corner three-pointer to open up space, a role initially lacking in USC's playbook until Demar stepped up. Though not a three-point specialist, Demar's mid-range shot still drew defenders away.
While USC didn't match the Warriors' firepower, the element of surprise could catch North Carolina off guard in the final showdown.
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