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Chapter 245 - 128. Challenge the answer one-on-one!_2

Chapter 245: 128. Challenge the answer one-on-one!_2

Iguodala advanced to the frontcourt and glanced at his big brother, his eyes conveying a desire to make a play. Iverson drew Felton away, creating space.

With a record of 37 wins and 42 losses, the 76ers had lost hope of making the playoffs earlier in the month, and Iverson had already started letting Iguodala handle the ball more in attack, hoping that Iguodala would grow rapidly.

In the competition for scoring champion with Kobe, Iverson had given up last month, finding Kobe’s scoring ability a bit too exaggerated.

Iguodala, excited, broke through!

Zhang Yang didn’t choose to block but rather covered the middle lane, allowing Iguodala to take the right lane, keeping close behind.

Iguodala drove in close... and encountered a double-team by Okafor and Zhang Yang. He forced a layup to avoid Zhang Yang’s interference and threw the ball... it missed!

Iguodala, a second-year player, had a straightforward offensive style that was easy to defend. He had played in all 79 games that season, averaging 12 points, with nearly half of the games scoring less than ten points.

Alley-oops and fast-break dunks were Iguodala’s main scoring methods for now, and as for other scoring methods, one could only say he knew them.

Zhang Yang grabbed the defensive rebound and wanted to push for a counterattack, but Iguodala stuck close to him.

On the other side, Felton was cut off by Iverson and couldn’t receive the ball immediately. Zhang Yang chose to slow down and play the half-court game.

Zhang Yang controlled the pace advancing to the frontcourt, avoiding wasting energy pushing forward, not worth it.

Iguodala had already retreated inside the three-point line. As Zhang Yang approached the three-point line, Iguodala didn’t rashly press forward.

The opponent’s pace around screens, the rhythm, it was all too good. It made Iguodala feel as if he was defending Steve Nash.

Zhang Yang protected the ball, didn’t call for a pick-and-roll, and asked Iguodala, "Andre, do you think I can score 34 points tonight?"

Iguodala was stunned, then furious, and pressed up against Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang dribbled behind his back to avoid Iguodala and burst into the paint.

As Iguodala turned to chase, Zhang Yang came to a quick stop on the right side of the free-throw line, and Iguodala overran the spot.

Zhang Yang jumped, took a mid-range shot...

After he had released the ball, Webber’s help defense lazily arrived, ineffective, and the ball flew into the hoop.

Zhang Yang made another 4 points!

During the transition from defense to offense, an infuriated Iguodala received the ball and pushed forward, wanting to crush this rookie!

Iguodala, after playing for two years, had a defining moment—holding Kobe to only 48 points.

The incident roughly happened after Iguodala boasted that he could guard Kobe before a game against the Lakers. Kobe said he’d score 50 points over Iguodala, and although Kobe didn’t achieve that, it was Iguodala who ended up being ridiculed by fans afterwards.

If it had been a famous star who asked Iguodala that question, he wouldn’t have reacted so strongly.

But Zhang Yang was just a rookie! And 34 points, precisely Iguodala’s career-high score. Not more, not less—what exactly did he mean by mentioning that number?

Iguodala continued to drive into the paint, attacking the basket in a straightforward manner, drawing a layup while facing defense... the shot he released felt uncertain, but luckily it bounced off the backboard and into the hoop.

On the transition from offense to defense, Zhang Yang continued his attack.

This time Iguodala kept up with him closely. He drove to the right side of the paint, came to a quick stop and dribbled the ball through his legs to pull back a step. Facing Iguodala’s rush back, he slapped the ball, stepped back, and took a jump shot...

Turning his head to see the ball drop into the hoop, Iguodala cursed.

Zhang Yang had lifted the ball during his step back, and long before landing, the ball was already on its way. The rhythm of the shot was so deceptive that Iguodala couldn’t even jump in time to block it—the ball had already flown over his head!

Being continuously scored on by a rookie, albeit the most high-profile rookie, didn’t sit well with Iguodala’s pride. When it came to the 76ers’ offense, he continued to play one-on-one with the ball.

Seeing Iguodala’s reckless manner, Iverson didn’t interfere. Although it was frustrating to see his younger brother, 22 years old, not as composed as an 18-year-old kid would be in just over a month, young players need to dare to act, after all.

After all, he had dared to go one-on-one with Jordan in his rookie year and even managed to shake Jordan off and make a mid-range shot.

On the Bobcats’ side, Felton saw Zhang Yang and Iguodala getting competitive and decisively passed the ball. If Iguodala was playing one-on-one, he wouldn’t have to defend Iverson one-on-one!

After three more rounds, Iverson couldn’t sit still any longer. When it came to the 76ers’ offense, he stopped Iguodala from continuing to play one-on-one and called for the ball.

Iguodala had attacked three more times, making only one of three shots, a hurried jump shot that missed due to interference, a wild and off-target drive to the basket, and one made shot that was again lucky.

Meanwhile, the rookie on the other side had made two more baskets in those three rounds. He had already made 5 out of 6 shots and scored 10 points after coming on!

The two players produced a score of 10 to 4. The Bobcats had extended their lead to 9 points, 22-13 over the 76ers.

Iverson felt there was a problem with the team’s training of Iguodala, mainly because there was a comparison to be made.

In terms of versatility, Zhang Yang was far from a match for Iguodala. Let Iguodala do any perimeter player’s job, and he could do it. Zhang Yang evidently wasn’t up to the task.

But when it came to one-on-one scoring ability, Iguodala was no match for Zhang Yang, even if he tried his hardest.

It seemed the team wanted Iguodala to do everything: isolation plays, catch and shoot, organize the offense, play defense... This made Iguodala’s progress seem a bit slow. Two years had passed, and although he knew everything, from scoring to defense to organizing the offense, none of his skills were outstanding.

Looking at the rookie on the other team who focused on improving his scoring ability, his progress over a season seemed greater than Iguodala’s over two seasons. Compared to their first encounter in November, Zhang Yang had already become a very outstanding sixth man.