Basketball miracles

Chapter 2 [Lakers' Opening Game]

After the morning practice, Xiao Tu and Magic Johnson went to a nearby restaurant for steak and talked about the game.

Johnson's favorite "feast" is steak. He can't eat sea urchin, black truffle, caviar, fried foie gras, etc., and he won't even take them if they're given to him for free.

Johnson also enjoys fried chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, cheese, and all sorts of junk food that can clog blood vessels. Once, the Lakers' general manager treated him to a premium seafood meal, but he took one bite and spat it out, saying he only wanted hamburgers.

Xiao Tu also dislikes fancy restaurants, considering them a waste of money; the two share similar tastes. They also share similar views on basketball tactics.

Previously, no one on the Lakers team was providing screens for Johnson, which is why he found Xiao Tu extremely pleasing to the eye.

Johnson was very honest; not long after meeting Xiao Tu, he revealed his dislike for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Abdul-Jabbar's range of movement was very limited; he only backed down opponents in the low post on both sides and refused to extend his reach outwards.

Johnson's most frequently used word was "space." He believed that there must be ample space in the paint so that perimeter players could better drive to the basket or pass the ball, creating simple scoring opportunities.

Xiao Tu's perimeter screens and catch-and-shoot plays were excellent today, playing a crucial role in the tactics.

They both love fast breaks and prefer to engage in half-court offense whenever possible. In half-court offense, there's no three-second rule in the paint, making it difficult for either team to get dunk opportunities; there's almost always a big man guarding the basket.

Xiao Tu has an exceptionally strong desire to perform, showcasing several spectacular dunks in the preseason. Johnson is convinced they're the same kind of people—those who want to turn the game into "showtime."

Xiao Tu and Johnson had eaten together several times, and this time Johnson was treating them again; they were already friends. Xiao Tu and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, however, had exchanged fewer than ten words in total, their relationship being merely nodding acquaintances.

When the topic came up, Johnson laughed and said, "You don't need to worry about Karim. He has no problem with you, he's just not very talkative."

"you sure?"

"Of course, he's not targeting you. Haven't you noticed that he rarely talks to anyone? Including Riley. In my first year with the Lakers, he barely looked at me or passed me the ball."

Xiao Tu thought about it and realized it was true. Apart from playing basketball, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar always stayed quietly in a corner, lost in thought.

Many fans online believe that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson were one of the best duos in NBA history, but in reality, the two didn't really cooperate much.

In a parallel universe, Johnson later ran pick-and-rolls with "Cobra" James Worthy. Xiao Tu triggered a butterfly effect, causing the Lakers' pick-and-roll offense to emerge earlier than expected.

The following evening, the area outside the Lakers' home arena, the Great Western Forum, was bustling with activity.

As soon as the Lakers arrived outside the arena, they were surrounded by a huge crowd of enthusiastic fans. Many hoped to shake hands with the stars and get their autographs as they got off the bus.

Seeing the enthusiastic fans, Xiao Tu felt even more eager to become a superstar.

It must feel wonderful to be the center of attention. He's just a Lakers rookie, but he's already very proud.

In the home team's locker room, Riley laid out the tactics, emphasizing a multi-pronged attack. The Lakers have multiple offensive options, so ball possession won't be concentrated on any one player; everyone will share the ball, and whoever has the best opportunity will take the shot.

Xiao Tu's job was simple: pull out to screen for Magic Johnson, stand high up to draw the defense, and look for opportunities to cut inside.

His position on offense is relatively fixed, and he has developed a very good chemistry with his teammates. Everyone knows where to find him, and when he receives the ball but can't shoot, he only needs to find Johnson or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to pass him the ball.

The Lakers' defensive tactics are simpler: man-to-man defense.

During this period, all teams used man-to-man defense; zone defense was not allowed in the NBA. Players' current skill sets make them particularly vulnerable to zone defense, and if zone defense were legal, the games wouldn't be as exciting to watch.

Basketball games can only attract more fans by having more drives to the basket and more dunks.

Shortly after Riley finished speaking, staff came to the locker room to inform the players to prepare to go on the field.

The order of appearance is: away team players first, home team players second.

The stadium is usually quieter when the away team players enter the field, while the applause is much louder when the home team players enter. This puts psychological pressure on the away players and boosts the morale of the home team.

The league does not arrange the order of players' appearances; it is decided by the teams themselves. The Lakers' management scheduled Xiao Tu to be the first player to appear today.

Magic Johnson patted Xiao Tu on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Don't be nervous, walk out with your head held high."

"Thank you, I'm going now." Xiao Tu stood at the front of the line, waiting to be called upon.

He was suddenly filled with a sense of epic grandeur.

When I take this step, it will be the beginning of a legend.

Soon, the Lakers' home announcer excitedly shouted: "Power forward, 206cm tall, a super rookie from Los Angeles, wearing jersey number 24—Sebastian Shaw!"

Normally, when introducing a rookie, you'd mention their university or draft position. Since Xiao Tu is a high school rookie, we won't mention his school, and since his draft position wasn't high, there's no need to. After the preseason, the Lakers internally called Xiao Tu a "super rookie," firmly believing he would become a star.

Xiao Tu ran out of the player tunnel, where Lakers fans gave him a warm round of applause. With a confident smile, Xiao Tu waved to the fans around him.

He has already gained a lot of popularity in Los Angeles because of his many spectacular dunks in the preseason!
Many fans came specifically to see Xiao Tu's dunking performance; his jumping ability clearly surpasses that of Magic Johnson and Worthy, the two number one draft picks.

Some female fans were also fans of Xiao Tu's looks, having never seen such a handsome athlete. He has deep-set eyes, a high nose bridge, and a strong chin, making him exquisitely handsome. His physique is also incredibly muscular, making one want to get to know him better.

The Lakers players took to the court one after another, with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar second to last and Magic Johnson last. The order of appearance also reflects their current status within the team; Johnson is the Lakers' number one star, having won the Finals MVP award in both of their previous championships.

While the players were warming up, three Black male spectators in the stands were having a lively discussion.

"Hey, look, it's him."

"Oh, that's Shaw, the rookie handpicked by Coach Riley."

"But he looks ordinary, nothing special."

"You're wrong. What's special about him is his physical attributes. When he dunks, his head can be level with the rim. I watched a preseason game."

"Really? Isn't that something only Dr. J can do?"

Xiao Tu knew what the fans wanted to see, so he performed several dunks, including an alley-oop, during warm-up, which earned him a lot of applause.

After warming up, the starting players from both sides took to the field, and the match was about to begin.

The Trail Blazers have several well-known stars and a strong roster. They have point guard Darnell Valentine, shooting guard Clyde Drexler, small forward Kiki Vandeweghe, power forward Bowie, and center Michael Thompson.

Vandeweghe is a white star player traded from the Nuggets to the Trail Blazers. Last season, he averaged 29.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. He is a super scorer known for his step-back jump shot, and the Trail Blazers acquired him with their sights set on the championship.

Thompson, standing at 208cm and weighing 103kg, was once the focus of much attention. He was the number one overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft, possessing well-rounded skills, but was never selected for the All-Star team.

Xiao Tu knew this person because he was the father of Klay Thompson, a future Warriors star, who won two championships after transferring to the Lakers in a parallel world.

Lakers starting lineup: Magic Johnson, Byron Scott, James Worthy, Shaw, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Bowie made a move first, winning the jump ball with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, giving the Trail Blazers the first possession.

Thompson received the ball on the perimeter, drawing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar out from under the basket. The Trail Blazers players switched the ball to the right wing, where Drexler lobbed it to Bowie, who was posting up in the low post.

Drexler, a second-year rookie, is known for his unselfish style and willingness to pass the ball. Trail Blazers legendary coach Jack Ramsey decided before the game to employ a "surprise attack," making Bowie the offensive focal point in the first quarter to help him build confidence.

Bowie was a bit far from the basket, but his teammate still passed the ball to him. Since Xiao Tu was only a late first-round pick, and the height difference between the two was significant, it looked like a mismatch opportunity.

Bowie tried hard to squeeze towards the basket, but failed. Once the two engaged in physical contact, he abandoned his disdain for high school players.

Xiao Tu began to underestimate Bao Wei, and the way the other party playfully attacked him from behind made him somewhat incredulous.

That's it? That's it?
If such a weakling can become the second overall pick, then the overall strength of the NBA's "Diamond Generation" can't be that strong, right?

Bao tried to back down the ball twice but couldn't get a hold of it, so he forced a turn and jumped to shoot from the baseline. Xiao Tu jumped as well, his faster spring and higher jump making up for the height difference, almost blocking the shot and seriously interfering with the shot.

The basketball bounced off the rim, and Xiao Tu immediately jumped again after landing, grabbing the rebound that was heading towards him and passing it to Johnson, who was making a run to receive it.

In contrast, Bowie's technique was like slow motion; everything he did was a beat slower than Xiao Tu's. Most terrifyingly, Xiao Tu immediately sprinted out after landing, joining the defenders on a fast break.

Xiao Tu's straight-line speed is faster than Johnson's, making him the fastest on the Lakers. He easily shook off Bowie in just a few steps. In a race, Bowie is simply not up to par; his center of gravity is too high, and he lacks explosive power.

A 3-on-3 situation was created in the frontcourt. Johnson broke through on the right, attracting Thompson's help defense, and then jumped up and gently tossed the ball towards the middle. The timing and height were just right.

Xiao Tu followed up with a double-footed jump, caught the ball at the highest point with both hands, spun it around a lot, and then slammed it into the basket with a right-hand windmill dunk! 2-0.

TBS commentator Tom Heinson, who was in charge of the live broadcast, was stunned. After a few seconds of silence, he said, "I can't believe it! Lakers rookie Sebastian Shaw made his career debut with an incredibly spectacular alley-oop dunk!"

"His speed and jumping ability are terrifying," said his teammate Dick Stockton. "Judging from his defense just now, he's also very strong."

Heinson said, "Since Shaw entered the draft right after high school, he didn't receive much attention during the draft. I think his physical attributes are among the top three in this year's draft class, and the Lakers made a huge profit by selecting him with only the 23rd pick!"

Stockton said, "We'll have to see how good he is in the future. A good player can't just dunk."

Heinson said, "Today's matchup between the second overall pick, Bowie, and Shaw is a good test of their mettle."

(End of this chapter)