Basketball Terminal

Chapter 82 Nemesis
After Levi stole the ball, Bruce Brown launched another counterattack, drawing a foul from the Mavericks and going to the free-throw line. Levi came over and high-fived Brown, who said, "You're fucking amazing, you completely shut down Doncic."

Li Wei took a deep breath and said, "Thank you, Harden."

During regular training, Li Wei and Harden often practice one-on-one. Harden's offensive style is actually quite similar to Doncic's; they both utilize rhythm and skill, and enjoy stopping to engage in one-on-one battles. If it weren't for giving Harden special treatment, Li Wei could easily lock him down in training.

Harden isn't lacking in explosiveness; he's just lazy. In terms of dynamic physical attributes, Harden is stronger than Doncic, with more powerful arms. Doncic, being white, may not possess the same jumping ability or explosiveness as Li Weiqiang. Relying solely on skill and rhythm has led to the current outcome.

Nash wasn't blind; he could tell that Levi was exhausted from the first quarter, so he substituted him with Jeff Green. His teammates all came over to give him high-fives, and Irving and Durant were beaming. When Levi made the steal, the Nets' bench and the entire Barclays Center erupted in cheers.

In the first quarter, he completed all four of his one-on-one defensive plays, with three blocks and one steal. No one in the entire league could dominate Doncic like that. To be honest, when Doncic saw Levi go to the bench to rest, he seemed to improve completely, his eyes lighting up.

Nash had no choice but to substitute him; he knew Levi's stamina was only enough for eight or nine minutes straight, and playing any longer would affect his performance in the later stages of the game. Tonight, Levi's role on both offense and defense was absolutely irreplaceable, so he needed to conserve his energy.

But the fans watching the game were unhappy, especially the Chinese fans who had specifically come to watch it. On the other side of the strait, in the live broadcast room of famous basketball commentator Xu Dongyu, although copyright issues prevented the broadcast from airing, the commentator chatted with fans while watching the game.

Li Wei's sudden rise to prominence has caused the NBA to suddenly gain immense popularity in China. Initially, people were just observing and thought it was just hype. But as Li Wei's performance improved game by game, becoming more and more solid, more and more fans started watching his games.

His 21+18 performance against the Kings, which earned him a guaranteed contract, caused his popularity to explode on Chinese online platforms. Numerous game clips and analyses from commentators emerged, some boasting, some feigning rationality, some stirring up trouble, and some deliberately going against the grain to appear knowledgeable...

Whether what they said was right or wrong, or whether it made sense or not, everyone's enthusiasm was ignited. It had been too long since a Chinese player worth discussing had emerged, and many commentators were now in a good position.

Xu Dongyu's humorous and down-to-earth live commentary style, coupled with his emotionally engaging analysis, has attracted a large number of fans who watch football for the spectacle. Since everyone's just looking for fun, he figured he might as well find the most entertaining option, which explains the significant influence of his videos and live streams.

He was initially skeptical of Li Wei, thinking that Li Wei was "just a short-term contract, not worth mentioning. He's never even played in the NCAA, he's just a nepotism hire, probably the son of one of Boss Cai's relatives, his cousin's nephew, who came to the NBA for a quick wash, a Brooklyn crab, and then resold back to China to play in the BA."

"A publicity stunt? Purely a publicity stunt!"

As a result, Li Wei performed very well in his first match, forcing Xu Dongyu to shut down. But as a streamer, you have to be stubborn; even if you're wrong, you can't admit it and you have to stick to your point of view.

"The most important thing in the NBA is physique. With that height and build, you're a center! What, are you going to become Draymond Green? Green himself is almost unable to make it in the NBA; he can only survive by clinging to Curry. You're trying to hug Durant in Brooklyn? Can Durant handle that kind of hug?"

Sure enough, Durant was soon reported to have suffered a serious injury and would be out for a considerable period, which was a boost for Xu Dongyu. But soon, Li Wei proved he could survive with his consistent performance on the court and secured a guaranteed contract.

To maintain his public image, Xu Dongyu still believes that Li Wei can only be a sideline player: "His defense is indeed good, but in this offensive era, if you don't have three-pointers and you don't have offense, what's the use of just defense? If you really want to defend, can you stop a scoring expert like Doncic?"

As a result, during this game, Xu Dongyu watched helplessly as Li Wei used his crazy defense to give Doncic three blocks and one steal, turning the Slovenian prodigy who was dominating the league into a high school student who had just started playing basketball. Xu Dongyu finally changed his expression.

"Doncic, a softie, a complete softie! He got the ball stolen again! Three blocks now! You're just making yourself play the ball! You have no regard for your teammates! You only know how to isolate and attack, and now you've gotten the ball stolen! You've met your matchup, this is a complete matchup. Who can defend Doncic like this? Li Wei, Doncic's nemesis!"

Xu Dongyu was quite excited, turning around nimbly, completely forgetting his earlier doubts about Li Wei. There was no way around it; three blocks and a steal against Doncic in a single quarter, keeping Dongzi scoreless so far, was indeed a remarkable performance.

But seeing Nash substitute Levi, Xu Dongyu's expression changed again: "Huh!? Why did he substitute Levi? What's Nash doing? He was playing so well and then he substituted him? Is he afraid Doncic is playing too poorly and can't find his rhythm? He should have kept him on the court!"

"Without Li Wei, what will the Nets do on defense? Rely on DeAndre Jordan? DeAndre Jordan is softer than Dongzi! Rely on Durant sitting on the sidelines eating bubblegum? As the team leader, he gets the highest salary but plays the fewest games. Actually, his return wouldn't be of much use, it would be a side effect! Staying on the sidelines would at least give his teammates some encouragement."

Sure enough, as soon as Li Wei stepped up, Doncic immediately found his offensive rhythm. Facing Green at the top of the arc, he dribbled back and hit a three-pointer. Then, on the fast break, he made a slow drive, pushed past Green, and released a fadeaway floater. The ball bounced twice on the rim before falling into the basket.

In just two exchanges, Doncic scored 5 points in a row, successfully turning the score around and infuriating Xu Dongyu.

"I told you, you can't let Li Wei out! How could you defend him so well and let him get taken out? Nash, Nash, Li Wei is Dongzi's nemesis, but I think Nash is Li Wei's nemesis! Why is the coach making such a blunder!"

The chat was filled with agreement; after Li Wei left the court, the Nets' offense and defense indeed collapsed. Doncic opened the scoring, and the Mavericks went on a 7-0 run, turning their lead into a deficit. At the end of the first quarter, the Mavericks led the Nets 33-28, a five-point lead.

Because once Doncic, the core offensive force, gets going, it's like pulling the plug on a water pipe—it just bursts forth uncontrollably. Although fans are criticizing him, only the players themselves know that sometimes they genuinely need rest when they leave the game.

A decline in physical fitness renders staying on the field ineffective, something spectators may not easily perceive. Many sports competitions, in the final stages, come down to who has better stamina, scores crucial goals, and avoids mistakes.

There was a very skilled running back in NFL history. He wasn't particularly fast, and he was often sacked in the first half of the game, unable to score. However, he had exceptional stamina. He would constantly run, drawing defenders away and wearing them down. By the second half of the game, when the opponents were exhausted, it was his turn to dominate.

Li Wei needs to increase his stamina, otherwise he won't be able to withstand the multiple drains. If he wants to make a difference on offense, the demands on his stamina will be even higher. Once his stamina declines, his shooting percentage will plummet. There's a reason why many teams collapse in crucial moments; it's mostly because they're exhausted.

The situation is undoubtedly unfavorable for the Nets, and the problem lies in their offense. Harden is carrying the team alone; there's no second offensive option, and scoring is too slow—this isn't the Nets' winning rhythm.

Nash was playing cards with Carlisle. Nash originally had a Joker, a 2, and an Ace. Now he's lost the Joker and the Ace, leaving only a 2 and all other low cards. Carlisle has a 2, a Jack, and a decent straight. Nash's card skills are already inferior to Carlisle's, making this game even more difficult.

However, Nash is a good guy but not stupid. He realized that Levi was an important all-rounder in his hands. His defense was incredibly effective, able to block opponents' twos. On offense, he could also create better results by combining with teammates. This was a card that could revitalize the entire team, and it had to be used carefully.

Therefore, Nash substituted Levi in ​​the first quarter, and Harden went to the bench at the start of the second quarter, after which the Nets' offense became unplayable. Harris and Shamet could only attempt tough three-pointers, which missed, allowing the Mavericks to launch fast breaks.

Brunson, who came off the bench, drove to the basket and made a floater over the defender, widening the gap. With Doncic out of the game, the Mavericks still had one more ball-handling offensive option on the court: Jalen Brunson.

The Mavericks went on another 6-0 run, extending their lead to 11 points. Shamet then received the ball after a screen and drained a three-pointer. The Mavericks missed a shot from beyond the arc, but Harris, after a screen from Jordan, received the ball and hit another three-pointer, bringing the Nets closer.

These two players receive the ball after a screen on the perimeter and shoot a three-pointer. If it goes in, great; if it doesn't, there's no rebound, no scoring, and no follow-up play. This is the Nets' lifeline—it's unpalatable, but you have to drink it whether it goes in or not; there's no better way.

They needed to hold out until Harden returned to find their offensive anchor. Meanwhile, Nash insisted on giving Levi more rest to recharge, focusing on the entire game, not just the second quarter. When Harden returned to the court during a timeout in the second quarter and saw Levi still sitting on the bench, he looked surprised.

"Where's Victor?" Harden asked.

"He should rest a little longer."

"She's in her postpartum confinement period..."

Harden looked dejected. "My shield's gone again, how am I supposed to play?" Seeing DeAndre Jordan on the court alongside him, Harden looked like he'd just eaten shit, but he had to eat it anyway. As soon as he entered the game, Harden forced a three-pointer and sank it, giving the Nets another run.

In the live stream, Xu Dongyu expressed his dissatisfaction, saying, "Li Wei is resting! If he rests any longer, he won't be able to play the rest of the game. He should just go back to the locker room and rest! Nash's personnel management is really lacking! He wouldn't even take a blood transfusion if you gave him one. But, Harden's three-pointers are really tough."

Not only Chinese commentators, but also commentators from ESPN and Turner TV in the US are saying, "They should let Levi play; he can stop Doncic's offense. This guy's defensive performance is amazing."

In the ESPN studio, Scott Mitchell watched the live broadcast from his desk backstage, clenching his fist in excitement at Levi's performance in the first quarter. "This guy is really something," he thought, "he managed to defend Doncic four times in one-on-one situations."

But after Nash substituted him in the first quarter, he sat on the bench to rest. Mitchell was so anxious that he wanted to run to the game and point at Nash and shout, "Get Victor on the court!"

Despite Levi's absence, the Nets still played with great resilience. The gap was once widened to 11 points, then narrowed to 5, then widened again to 12, and then narrowed back to just 5. Three-pointers are a powerful tool for closing the gap.

When Harden and Doncic returned to the court, the two teams were separated by 7 points, with the Mavericks leading, but not significantly. With Harden hitting a three-pointer, the difference narrowed to 4 points: 47-43.

Doncic's feelings were complicated when he saw that Levi wasn't on the court. He certainly wanted to score against Levi, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to score against him tonight. But his four one-on-one possessions just now—three blocks and one steal—were truly embarrassing. Was he really being countered by this guy?

Doncic dribbled at the top of the key, isolating himself against DeAndre Jordan. He uses a series of subtle moves—faking, driving, creating space, then driving again—ultimately drawing a foul on Jordan and sending him to the free-throw line. This strategy seems correct, so why doesn't it work on Li Wei?
Distracted, Doncic missed both free throws, giving the Nets a fast break opportunity. Unfortunately, Shamet's three-pointer missed, and in the scramble for the rebound, Jordan knocked the ball out of bounds, giving the Mavericks possession.

Nash knew his moment had come. With just over four minutes left in the first half, Doncic's nemesis made a dazzling return to the court. The fans in the arena erupted in cheers, and the television cameras focused on him, replaying his impressive defense against Doncic.

"Li Wei is finally back on the court! Nash must have forgotten about him. After resting for so long, how's his form? Can he defend Doncic again?" Xu Dongyu got excited again. It's always exciting to see a player of the same skin color performing well in the NBA.

Doncic took a deep breath. He had made up his mind for this play; he couldn't force his way through again. He needed to execute a play, a pick-and-roll with his teammate, and get moving. Ideally, he'd drive to the basket for a dunk to boost his morale.

After the ball was passed across half-court, Doncic made a proactive run, circling the baseline from right to left. Carlisle on the sidelines was quite pleased; Doncic was even making runs without the ball in his hands. People really do need a nemesis to spur them on, otherwise they'll become increasingly lazy on the court and play without thinking.

The Nets took a 3-2 lead. Levi remained in his familiar left-side area around the basket. He glanced at Doncic and noticed he planned to set an off-ball screen in the middle. With the ball in Brunson's hands, he was certain Brunson would lob the ball in and then drive to the basket.

Predicting tactics requires not only the ability to read shadows but also the ability to judge the next tactical move based on positioning. A lack of tactical understanding is essential. Fortunately, Li Wei, a former point guard, had memorized various tactical routines and understood the basic principles thoroughly.

After making his prediction, Li Wei prepared to start early, stand under the basket, and draw an offensive foul.

However, an unexpected turn of events occurred. DeAndre Jordan on the other side anticipated Doncic's route and entered the paint to intercept him, causing Doncic to change direction after receiving the ball and instead of heading towards Li Wei.

Li Wei had no choice but to change his position and move to the other side. Doncic had already jumped, and he was about to dunk the ball over Li Wei's head!
However, Dongzi overestimated his jumping ability. He jumped too early and didn't take off fully, landing directly on Li Wei. Li Wei instinctively turned around, not wanting to end up with Dongzi's crotch. As a result, Doncic landed on Li Wei's back, causing Li Wei to stumble and carry Doncic for more than two meters, from under the basket to the baseline.

"You fucking get down here!"

Doncic, still holding the ball, awkwardly slid off Li Wei's back with a forced smile. The referee, unsure how to call it, hesitated for a moment and then gave Li Wei a blocking foul.

"Doncic tried to dunk! He just climbed onto Li Wei's back! You're like Pigsy carrying Dongzi! This isn't Li Wei's fault, it's purely Doncic overestimating himself! The referee should give Li Wei a foul, and then he can bring some fruit to the referee. This offensive foul is perfectly justified."

Doncic earned two free throws from the foul, finally scoring against his nemesis.

(End of this chapter)