Basketball Terminal

Chapter 53 Bodyguard
Harden is the Nets' offensive engine; once that engine shuts down, the Nets' offense stagnates. Ordinary defense struggles to contain a superstar of Harden's caliber, inevitably requiring some drastic measures. The NBA is much more civilized now; decades ago, in a much more brutal era, physical altercations with star players were commonplace. Therefore, teams employed bodyguard-like players, both to protect their core players on the court and as a deterrent—if the opposing team went too far, daring to injure their star player, they would injure theirs in return. This trend peaked in the 1970s, with rampant on-court violence and brawls occurring daily.

With Kermit Washington's punch that sent Tomjanovich sprawling, the league began to crack down on violence. By the 1980s, the so-called Detroit Bad Boys were nothing more than child's play; after all, they hadn't actually ruined anyone's career, and their fight scenes were far less effeminate than those of the 60s and 70s.

With the introduction of flagrant fouls in the 1990s, overt attacks were no longer effective, and various dirty tricks and underhanded tactics gradually became widespread. Bodyguard-type players gradually transformed into dirty trick experts. They were generally good at defense and would use various covert tactics to deal with the opponent's key players, disrupt their mentality, and destroy their performance. If they accidentally injured someone, it was unintentional; they were just a bit clumsy.

Tonight, Beverley's tenacious defense and use of clotheslines to disrupt his offense were relatively fair; they were just psychological and unlikely to cause injury. Even when Levi accidentally hit James in the head or elbowed him in the chest, it hurt and made him dizzy, but he recovered quickly.

The truly dirty tricks are footwork, leg attacks, and attacks on a player's groin. A player's leg and foot joints are very fragile; a slight mishap could lead to a sprain or strain, resulting in injury and absence, or even the end of the season or a career.

The Bad Boys Pistons, despite their infamous reputation, haven't actually benefited from injuring key players in many playoff series; their main strategy has been to psychologically manipulate opponents. Meanwhile, some dirty tricksters are adept at using foot-planting techniques, which may seem like a small step, but are actually a giant leap, causing significant damage to players and having a profound impact.

In the 2017 playoffs, Zaza Pachulia's decisive kick shattered Kawhi Leonard's ankle, causing the Spurs, who held a commanding lead in Game 1, to be overturned and subsequently swept by the Warriors in the series. This single kick not only changed the course of the game but also the entire series, the fates of Leonard and Durant, and the future of both the Spurs and Raptors. It could even be said to have reshaped the league's landscape, having a profound impact.

Even today, people in San Antonio still wonder who would have won the 2017 Western Conference Finals without that kick, whether Kawhi Leonard would still be with the Spurs, and whether Kevin Durant would have achieved redemption or become an even bigger joke.

But fans of the other 29 teams in the league, outside of San Antonio, are unlikely to have any sympathy for them. The Spurs were once a team that favored playing dirty, high-flying players and benefited from it on numerous occasions. Bruce Bowen, the master of dirty tricks, injured countless players. Similarly, Robert Horry's collision with Nash in 2007 determined the course of the series, causing the Suns to miss a crucial championship window.

There's also Patrick Beverley during his time with the Rockets, whose knee strike in the playoffs ended Westbrook's season, costing the Thunder their championship run and foreshadowing Kevin Durant's later departure. It's fair to say that several players in this game had their careers or the lives of others altered by their dirty work.

Li Wei is no stranger to this kind of dirty trickery; the lower the level of the competition, the more of these underhanded tactics there are. Especially in places like the Philippines, playing badminton is almost like fighting, or even more brutal. You may not use many of these tactics, but you can't be ignorant of them. Li Wei remembers when he first turned professional; after his first match, he was covered in bruises, thoroughly punished by an experienced player for using dirty tricks.

Later, he gained experience through games while also seeking advice and learning from veteran players. Li Qun, the championship-winning guard from Guangdong Hongyuan, ran a training camp after retiring. A typical small guard with extremely rich court experience, Li Wei learned a great deal from him. He possessed both fair and square point guard skills and a strong court vision, as well as subtle tactics and countermeasures.

These experiences greatly benefited Li Wei, whose physical condition was average, allowing him to gain a foothold and survive in the brutal professional arena. Although his talent was not high and his potential was limited, at least he could make a living.

Seeing Nash stammering and looking a little embarrassed, Li Wei thought to himself, "Coach, you're still too reserved and polite. No wonder you were bullied back then but had no way to retaliate. Raja Bell only knows how to use a chokehold; against some players, a chokehold alone is definitely not enough."

After wiping his shoes on the sidelines, Levi came on to replace Harris. Upon entering the game, Levi first gave Harden a high-five, as if to say, "Hey buddy, I'm here, don't panic, I've got your back." Beverley remained on the court, still maintaining his bulldog-like posture, grumbling and swearing incessantly.

The Nets had an inbound pass, Harden received the ball, and Beverley swarmed him again, harassing him by touching him all over. The handcheck rule was abolished in the 04-05 season and was once strictly enforced, almost disappearing from the league, allowing perimeter players to unleash their offensive potential. However, in recent years, with the rise of three-pointers and the increasing firepower of outside shooters, the no-handcheck rule has gradually become a mere formality, and referees rarely call this violation anymore.

Li Wei arrives at the top of the key, reaching out for the ball—a basic routine in training. When Harden is heavily pressured on the perimeter, the inside player comes to receive the ball and then sets a handoff screen to help Harden get rid of the defensive interference. Harden understands and passes the ball to Li Wei, who immediately sets a handoff pass.

Rookie players often make a mistake when setting handoffs and screens: they keep their eyes and bodies facing the passer, resulting in an incomplete screen that allows the defender to squeeze past them and steal the ball. Beverley is adept at squeezing through screens and entangled with the ball handler. If Levi's screen isn't set well, the ball won't reach Harden, and the offense will stall.

Li Wei may seem like a rookie, but he's actually a seasoned veteran and wouldn't make such a mistake. When setting a handoff screen, you need to face the defender, keeping your eyes on them to anticipate their movements. The person receiving the pass isn't blind; if you put the ball in your hands, they'll come to get it themselves—no need to keep an eye on them. It's the opponent who needs to keep an eye on them and try to stop them.

Harden charged towards Levi, with Beverley sticking close behind. Levi secured the ball, and the Clippers players behind him didn't interfere. Levi's attention was focused on Beverley, his domineering aura instantly concentrated on his waist and buttocks—at this moment, he was an iron butt! He aimed for Beverley's waist.

Harden received the ball from Levi, and Beverley tried to squeeze past him, bumping into Levi's hip. He was prepared to subtly elbow Levi aside before continuing his attack on Harden. However, the moment their bodies made contact, it was like hitting a tree. Normally, when squeezing through screens, even strong big men are still made of flesh and blood, with elastic muscles. And many big men's screens aren't solid, making it easy to squeeze through.

Li Wei, however, remained rooted to the spot. Forget about a hidden elbow; Beverley's hip slammed into the tree trunk, causing him to lose his balance and tumble to the side. The referee, watching closely, noted Li Wei's screen was flawless—no movement, no backside flexion, no hand action. So Beverley shrugged and complained to the referee, but the referee made no call; it was a good play. Meanwhile, Harden had already driven to the basket, launching a floater from near the three-second area, scoring two points! Beverley was still sitting on the ground, unable to get up from the impact. Harden, passing by, couldn't resist taunting, "Time to get up, Beverley! You're going to be late."

After getting up, Beverly rubbed his lower back, his face dark, and glared at Levi, thinking, "Why did this guy's collision hurt so much? He was facing me with his backside turned, but it felt like I bumped into a metal block. Did he have something in his pants?"
Beverley was still puzzled, plotting to teach Levi a lesson later. On the sidelines, Steve Nash clenched his fist slightly, thinking that Levi's screen was excellent. Standard, solid, and effective. Not rushing to cut to the basket for an easy layup might affect regular season stats, making his play less impressive, but in the playoffs, such a solid screen will play a crucial role in key moments for the star player's isolation plays.

However, a voice deep inside Nash told himself, "Not ruthless enough, not ruthless enough, be ruthless, Viktor."

Later on defense, Levi switched onto Paul George. George's mismatch isolation play failed to break down Kyrie Irving, and he almost lost the ball due to Irving's close defense. He called for a pick-and-roll, but the Nets, in order to conserve Irving's energy, switched on every pick-and-roll. Irving collapsed inside, leaving Levi facing George at the top of the key.

Another top-tier small forward in the league. Li Wei never imagined that one day he would face off against a forward like George on the NBA court. The previous game against LeBron James gave Li Wei confidence, but also left him with a lingering fear. He stared intently at George, thinking, "You're not going to try and scare me with a crab or a turtle too, are you?"

George didn't. After recovering from his leg injury, he relied more on shooting and rhythm, making him prone to inconsistent performances. When he had a good touch and rhythm, his shooting was unstoppable, and he played exceptionally well. However, once his touch became inconsistent and he lost his rhythm, he couldn't rely on drives and drawing fouls to attack opponents like other superstars, often losing his way while missing shots.

George's dribbling was smooth, but nothing beats Kyrie Irving's. Levi completely kept up with George's ball-handling rhythm. Realizing George was about to shoot, he accelerated forward and swatted away George's mid-range shot!

Having successfully regained possession, Li Wei prepared to pass and initiate a fast break, but then heard Harden yell, "Watch out behind you!" Kawhi Leonard appeared from the side and behind, knocking the ball out of Li Wei's hands and regaining possession. No matter how good Li Wei's anticipation is, he doesn't have eyes in the back of his head.

Leonard passed the ball inside, and Ibaka received it and dunked it in. Harden came over and patted Li Wei on the shoulder, "Good block, but be more careful." Li Wei nodded. The game changes in an instant, especially in the NBA, where players react incredibly fast. Players with slightly slower reactions might not even be able to get the ball; once they do, it's gone. Leonard is one of the best defenders in the league, with the fastest hands and the biggest hands, so it's not unusual for him to steal one from him.

Li Wei needs to accumulate more experience in the NBA; he still has a lot of room for improvement.

The two teams battled for several more possessions, with the score remaining neck and neck. After Levi entered the game, the Nets' defense improved significantly, but on offense, Levi didn't have Harris's accurate catch-and-shoot three-pointers. Thanks to their defense, the Nets, who were initially slightly behind, slowly tied the score and even had a chance to take the lead.

Harden has the ball, Beverley stays close, and Levi moves to the three-point line, setting up a screen near the mid-court line. As the league's three-point shooting prowess improves, especially with Curry leading the trend of long-range threes, the screen placement is increasingly wider, now reaching near mid-court. Top point guards, after setting a screen at mid-court, can shake off their defender, take a step or two forward, and launch a three-pointer with a high success rate.

Of course, setting a screen in this position places demands on the screener. With such a large space, to accurately screen the defender, you inevitably have to stick your butt out, move your elbows, or even take a couple of steps to the side. According to the rules, moving screens are illegal, but referees often turn a blind eye, after all, long-range three-pointers look good.

Li Wei didn't move while setting the screen, remaining firmly in place as Harden accelerated towards him. Beverley could have easily bypassed Li Wei by circling around him, but this resentful little mad dog wanted to take the opportunity for revenge. He charged straight at Li Wei, raised his elbow, and slammed it into Li Wei's stomach! He planned to exaggeratedly fall backward after the impact, hoping to draw a foul.

However, at the moment of impact, Beverley felt like he had hit a concrete wall. His nose stung, his arm went numb, and his vision went black. He didn't even need to pretend; he stumbled and fell to the ground. Levi, on the other hand, exaggeratedly fell backward, as if he had been knocked over by Beverley. The referee hesitated for a moment, then blew his whistle, calling a charging foul on Beverley—Levi hadn't moved at all.

Beverley didn't jump up to complain to the referee because he was dizzy, really dizzy. His vision was blurry, and he sat on the ground, hugging his knees, completely stunned. What just happened? Wasn't I playing basketball? How did I crash into the wall? Was I playing basketball? It felt like football; did I forget to wear my helmet?

Li Wei pretended to be in pain and lay on the ground for a while, secretly glancing at himself while covering his face. He hadn't been called for a foul, and he certainly hadn't. Harden and Jeff Green helped him up, while Beverley was still sitting on the ground in a daze, thinking, "How's that? Your head's spinning, isn't it? I didn't even lift a finger, and you're already down. You're still far behind LeBron."

The game was paused, and both teams returned to their benches. Beverley sat for a while before recovering, then struggled to his feet and returned to the bench, his earlier arrogance largely gone. He sat there in a daze.

Steve Nash patted Levi on the shoulder without saying anything. But beneath his mask, a smile crept onto his lips, his previously furrowed brows relaxed, and even his pale face flushed slightly. He thought to himself, "It's so satisfying to have a player like this under my command. Two simple screens have silenced a mad dog from the opposing team, and I no longer need to worry about Harden's performance."

He looked at D'Antoni as if to say, "If the Suns had had a player like that back then, would their fate have been different?"
(End of this chapter)