Basketball miracles

Chapter 99 [Death Entanglement]

Before the game, no one would have expected that last season's double MVP, Larry Bird, would be humiliated by a rookie right from the start.

Bird hadn't expected this; he was planning to trash talk Xiao Tu after making the shot, trying to mess with the young man's mentality. Instead, Xiao Tu almost blocked his shot, leaving him with a red card – how embarrassing!

Xiao Tu wouldn't leave Bird two meters away on defense; he'd stick close to him if possible. Months ago, he had already fantasized about competing against Bird, and if they were matched up, he would give it his all.

He had long wanted to know just how amazing Larry Bird was, who won three consecutive regular season MVP awards in the 80s in a parallel universe.

Before his time travel, he had watched Bird's highlight reels, which were all ordinary jump shots, with his reverse layups considered career highlights, and he couldn't really see how strong Bird was. But Bird averaged 29.9 points per game in his peak season, had double-digit rebounds for six consecutive seasons after entering the NBA, and was also good at organizing the offense, so he should have been very strong.

Facing off against the MVP is Xiao Tu's best chance to prove his personal strength. A close match would earn him countless accolades.

Xiao Tu was well aware that if he got completely dominated by Bird, this hot-tempered, argumentative socially anxious man would definitely have nothing good to say about him. Therefore, how could he possibly hold back on Bird's defense?

We both play footwork, if I can't block Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, can't I block you?
Heinson lamented, "Bird relies on skill and basketball IQ; his physical attributes and athleticism are quite average. He wasn't familiar with Shaw and used his usual style of play, so his shot this time was too casual."

Barry said, "I think Bird had to create space from Shaw when receiving the ball, face up to make moves to try and get past him, and shoot over him. Nobody can back down Shaw, not even big men."

Stockton laughed and said, "I think Eastern Conference players should try to avoid attacking Shaw. Going one-on-one against him is a very unwise choice, even if it's Bird."

Xiao Tu felt a fire burning in his heart, extremely excited, waiting for Bird to attack again.

Bird will definitely challenge me one-on-one again. Not challenging me would be a sign of weakness. How can an MVP be afraid of a rookie?
If you dare to hit me, I'll make you pay!

The East team inbounded the ball from the sideline, and Bird received it on the right side. Xiao Tu immediately moved up to close him down.

After receiving the ball, Bird couldn't smoothly turn to face the basket and made a move, bumping into Xiao Tu twice as if he had hit a wall. After observing his teammates' positioning, he passed the ball out.

Bird didn't want to pass, but he was too far from the basket to receive the ball, and Xiao Tu was sticking to him like glue, using subtle movements to push him away. He knew he couldn't shake him off by turning, and forcing a shot might get him blocked; the opponent was too fast.

Once the ball is passed, it won't return to Bird's hands. Isaiah Thomas, grinning, started playing a one-on-one game with Johnson, using his agility to break through and score a layup.

Xiao Tu didn't help defend, and followed Bird to a very far-out position, showing no interest in Thomas whatsoever.

On the Western Conference offensive, Xiao Tu set a screen for Magic Johnson and then positioned himself outside the three-point line in the middle.

Seeing this, "The Smiling Assassin" couldn't laugh anymore. Thomas only wanted to go one-on-one with Johnson and didn't want to defend pick-and-rolls.

When facing Magic Johnson one-on-one, Thomas stands out on the court. He tends to opt for jump shots whenever Johnson can't penetrate, and his defense also appears excellent. He won the All-Star Game MVP last season using this method, significantly boosting his popularity.

Unfortunately, Johnson and Xiao Tu are now addicted to pick-and-rolls and no longer want to go one-on-one.

With someone providing a screen, Johnson could easily break through with a crossover. Why bother dribbling and then stopping to shoot over the defense?
Bird didn't switch on the pick-and-roll, and Johnson drove straight in from the right, drawing Parish's help defense before making a fancy behind-the-back pass to Sampson under the left basket, assisting the latter for a one-handed dunk.

Sampson's shooting percentage was also very high today, scoring easily with easy baskets. 50 to 40.

During the Eastern Conference offensive, Bodela received the ball at the three-point line in the middle, and Xiao Tu followed him out, continuing to closely guard him.

No matter where you run to receive the ball, I'll stick close to you.

Johnson can play guard, so can I.

Bird was having a real headache; with a similar defensive style, Xiao Tu was even more difficult to deal with than the Lakers' guard Michael Cooper. Cooper became a perimeter defensive specialist by relying on close defense, but his physical strength wasn't particularly strong; he was just very aggressive.

The strong Xiao Tu kept his opponent close, making it difficult for him to turn around, let alone create space to make moves.

How to better defend against players who primarily rely on shooting? The answer for the future of NBA games is suffocating defense!
Players in this era generally maintain distance on defense, only engaging in physical contact when the opponent attacks the basket, and fouling only when they absolutely cannot defend under the rim. This is how it's taught in college, and most players who have attended college maintain a similar style after entering the NBA. Future defensive stalwarts will prefer constant close-quarters contact, using strength to disrupt the opponent's dribbling and shooting rhythm.

Tony Allen, Kawhi Leonard, Ron Artest, and others are all adept at this defensive style. In particular, Tony Allen, who is 193cm tall, has repeatedly reduced the shooting percentage of the 208cm Durant to less than 40% by using close marking.

It's worth mentioning that in the future, none of the big men who follow Bird's model of playing on the floor will become stars in the NBA; they'll all be dumbfounded when faced with close defense.

Xiao Tu's playing style is more advanced, and Bird, who is 206cm tall and weighs 100kg, has no physical advantage against him. His physical attributes are equally poor, with a wingspan of only 209cm, typical of a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Bird was stuck beyond the three-point line and couldn't break through, so he had to pass to Thomas. Thomas used his speed to get past Johnson off the ball and hit a three-pointer. 50-43.

Thomas doesn't usually play like this, but he was on fire today, sinking his second three-pointer of the game.

In the Western Conference offensive play, players spread out for a pick-and-roll on the perimeter.

Johnson dribbled down the right wing, but Bird didn't switch to defend the pick-and-roll. He didn't want to see Xiao Tu drive to the basket for another dunk; he just wanted to keep an eye on the player he was assigned to guard.

Johnson pulled up for a jump shot at the corner and scored, Thomas's attempt to contest the shot was unsuccessful. 52-43.

Johnson smiled smugly as he returned to defense. His main scoring method this season is mid-range shots from both sides at 60 degrees, which often result in easy defense.

Xiao Tu makes opposing power forwards hesitant to switch on him, posing a threat even when he's standing still on the perimeter. Xiao Tu is currently the NBA's three-point leader this season, averaging 1.2 three-pointers per game with a 42.7% success rate.

Pat Riley initially disliked Xiao Tu shooting three-pointers, but later, seeing how effective it was, he stopped interfering. Xiao Tu typically attempts two or three three-pointers per game, more when he's on a hot streak, all within the coach's permitted range.

During the Eastern Conference offensive possession, Bird received the ball in the middle but still couldn't find a good shooting opportunity. He shielded the ball and passed it to Celtics guard Dennis Johnson, who was cutting to the left wing.

Dennis, who is 193cm tall, forced a layup under the defense of Kelvin Knight, but missed. Sampson grabbed the rebound and passed the ball to Magic Johnson to launch a counterattack.

Xiao Tu and Adrian Dantley made a fast break, creating a three-on-three situation in the frontcourt, and Bird immediately felt a lot of pressure.

Johnson used his physical advantage to force his way down the left flank, drawing Bird's attention before turning and quickly passing the ball to the perimeter.

Xiao Tu deliberately slowed down a bit, creating distance between himself and Bodela, who had retreated to the free-throw line. He received the ball in the middle and pulled up for a three-pointer with a very elegant form; the height of his shot would have been enough for a dunk if he were under the basket.

Bird stepped forward to defend, but didn't jump; he just extended his hand.

Xiao Tu's shooting rhythm was perfect, as effortless as in training; whether it went in or not depended entirely on his touch. To prepare for this game, he focused on practicing three-pointers during the day, and it certainly paid off.

The ball swished through the net! Swish! 55 to 43.

Xiao Tu immediately turned around after landing and raised his arms to celebrate his goal. This was a celebration he had planned before the match, and it wasn't just about pounding his chest and roaring.

The fans in the stadium applauded wildly, and some female fans even screamed!
So cool! People suddenly realized that players can look this cool when shooting three-pointers!
This is Xiao Tu's 14th point, with a 100% field goal percentage. He is the leading scorer for both teams, and if he maintains this form, he is likely to score an amazing high number of points today.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the MVP award will likely be contested between him and Magic Johnson. Johnson is also in superb form, having already recorded 8 points and 7 assists.

Stockton exclaimed, "Shaw hit his second three-pointer of the game! He can do it inside and out, he's amazing!"

Heinson said, "He not only makes three-pointers, but his jump shot is also incredibly smooth. I've never seen anyone jump that high before him."

Barry exclaimed, "His playing style is the most captivating, and his image is the best among all the players."

Russell felt that everyone else had already said what he needed to say, and since he didn't know what else to add, he simply remained silent. After all, he was the "Lord of the Rings" with eleven championship rings; it wouldn't be appropriate for him to join in the hype surrounding the rookie.

(End of this chapter)