章節 29: Chapter 28 What's the Rush?
"Stephen, are you up for this or not? If not, I'll take over!"
Artest, seeing Su Wan's arrogant celebration, was very dissatisfied and shouted at Jackson.
Jackson looked a bit embarrassed, but Su Wan's cutting choices were very seasoned, not like a typical rookie. He was better at 1v1 defense, especially against those who were slower. Defending against those who knew how to use screens to receive the ball and then cut immediately was actually his weakness.
But seeing the rookie's boastful behavior after scoring, he said solemnly, "What's the rush? It's just one round!"
"Did you see that, Paul? Uncle's cut was so seasoned. He only learned this tactic after joining the Cavaliers. You can't deny the kid's ability to learn!" Brandon Malone remarked to Silas with emotion.
Silas wanted to retort, "It was just a very ordinary cut!"
But he couldn't say it.
Because Malone was right.
When Su Wan first joined the Cavaliers, he didn't have such a knack for cutting. His growth in this aspect all happened over the past month.
This was another advantage of "The Zone" mode.
Once this mode was activated, even if Su Wan had never encountered a tactic before, he could instantly understand it. Meanwhile, his use and understanding of tactics during this period remained in his mind after the game, becoming his experience.
As soon as Newell got the ball, he instantly sensed a perfect opportunity for a breakthrough.
LeBron's gaze became more complex as he watched Su Wan's flamboyant celebration after the slam dunk. He felt as though he had been overshadowed yet again. This recurring feeling of being suppressed was really uncomfortable.
Since "Sports Illustrated" had first called him the "Chosen One," he had never experienced such a discomfort.
He was holding back a belly full of irritation, wanting to vent.
However, Tinsley seized on his agitated reaction, skillfully dribbling past him.
This was enough to remind many of the scene where rookie Allen Iverson dodged past Michael Jordan. The crowd murmured lowly. Silas cursed under his breath, "Damn it, what the hell is he doing?"
This was not the LeBron James he knew!
Su Wan moved to help defend halfway, and from the corner of his eye, he saw LeBron standing still, watching Tinsley enter the free throw line, and sighed internally, returning to defend against Stephen Jackson. —If LeBron had immediately switched with him, he would have pounced without hesitation to defend against Tinsley. Under the current circumstances, if he had continued to go help defend, then Tinsley could pass to Jackson. Even if Newell helped to cover for him, the Pacers could still pass and create a big open shot opportunity.
"4 defending 5" would always leave someone open.
"Big Z" as the last line of defense, couldn't stop Tinsley's throwing shot.
Another embarrassment, thinking of Su Wan's highlights up to now, LeBron, frustrated, threw his hands, "Hey, buddy, what are you doing? Why did you stop defending halfway?"
Su Wan countered, "You let him step over you, and you have the nerve to ask me?"
"You should have gone over, you clearly could have made it!" LeBron was very adamant.
"When you learn to defend without just using your eyes, I'll go over," Su Wan replied incredulously. It was his first time seeing someone who was easily bypassed by the opponent in defense, standing there without following, and still having the audacity to blame his teammate.
The back-and-forth argument caught the attention of those on the sidelines, and Paul Silas hurriedly clapped his hands to get the two focused back on the game.
LeBron received the ball in the backcourt, still annoyed, and slapped the ball hard.
Su Wan's response was as piercing as a needle prick; Jordan couldn't even recall the last time someone had dared to speak to him like that, or how long ago it had been.
To think his team actually wanted him to get on good terms with this guy!
This rookie had no regard for the "King"!
It was something LeBron couldn't tolerate.
As the ball moved from the backcourt to the frontcourt, Artest was waiting for him with a menacing look again, and LeBron sighed helplessly in his heart. He felt stifled, firstly by Su Wan consistently making good plays, and secondly, while Su Wan was doing so, he managed to keep Artest without a temper.
During the preseason, he could clearly feel how the League eliminating hand-check boosted his performance.
But against Artest, that boost seemed to vanish.
"Inside, inside, or pass the ball to Uncle!" Paul Silas saw LeBron's plight and offered him some guidance.
LeBron glanced at Su Wan out of the corner of his eye; he indeed was open, but without even a second's thought, he lobbed the ball under the basket where Big Z caught it and easily scored one-on-one. Jeff Foster, who was a typical "inside meat shield," was too slow, and Big Z had a good understanding of such matchups.
Originally in this game, facing the Pacers, he had grabbed 35 points and 18 rebounds, but because of LeBron James's six turnovers, the Cavaliers ultimately still lost. And there were many such games.
LeBron had wasted many people's prime years, and the most overlooked was this first All-Star center in LeBron's career.
Relying on Big Z, the Cavaliers barely grappled with the Pacers. By the first quarter with 5 minutes and 45 seconds left, Paul Silas called a timeout with the score at 11 to 14, the Cavaliers trailing by 3 points.
"Uncle, you need to handle the ball more in the coming plays, only then can we divert the Pacers' concentrated defensive attention away from LeBron!"
Big Z's performance was good enough; he was 3 for 4 now, but the Cavaliers were still behind, as LeBron, the "Cavaliers' engine," was being contained.
Su Wan complained unhappily, "First, I need to get the damn ball!"
Since scoring an open cut at the start, he had barely touched the ball.
LeBron couldn't advance himself, and his choice was always the inside man, Big Z. Su Wan could clearly feel LeBron's targeting. Such tactics worthy of high schoolers disgusted him.—Dogs couldn't change their diet of excrement, just a few preseason games, the regular season just commenced, and this guy was already showing his true colors. It seemed like his last season with the Cavaliers had been too comfortable indeed.
LeBron said nothing.
Paul Silas tried to smooth things over, hitting fifty for each, "It's normal for young people to have conflicts in communication, but that's no excuse for not cooperating properly!"
The game resumed, and this time, LeBron truly did pass the ball.
But he intentionally delayed until both teams were positioned before passing to Su Wan. Crossing his arms, he stood aside and "kindly" added a provoking remark, "Uncle, I believe in you, Stephen Jackson is definitely not your match."
The air was thick with provocation!
It was hard to find an excuse to erupt.
Su Wan decisively called for Big Z's screen, and Stephen Jackson, lacking Artest's lateral speed, was beaten as Su successfully drove to the basket, passing to Drew Gooden, who finished with a slam dunk.
During this time, Artest tried to help defend but was pushed back by a mere look from Su Wan.
"Stephen, can you actually handle it?" he challenged again.
Stephen Jackson's response was as usual, "It's just been two plays, what's the rush?"
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