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Chapter 345 - 164. Bad boy Zhang San doesn’t hold grudges overnight!

Chapter 345: 164. Bad boy Zhang San doesn’t hold grudges overnight!

Zhang Yang twitched his mouth when he heard this. It really wasn’t for nothing that he was ranked number one among all American high school players in 2002, ahead of Anthony, and labeled in the 04-05 season as the ’least skilled player to average more than 25 points per game.’ His physical abilities have been diminished after all?

How shocking it must have been to watch the young tyrant who relied purely on fast breaks, cuts to the basket, and taking shots near and under the basket, accounting for over 75% of his attempts? It’s truly regrettable that I can’t face off against such a young tyrant.

Besides, it’s not just about having good physical attributes; adapting to a severe decline due to injury is very difficult.

Zhang Yang thought that this guy probably didn’t have the same ability as Duncan to independently adjust to changes in physical fitness, but this kind of thing could be helped by external forces—Thomas Carter could help him adjust his play style.

A saying from Thomas Carter: "A team doctor’s job is to reduce the risk of injuries, which is more important than being able to cure them."

In the future, when Stoudemire went to the Knicks, he played well for a year before collapsing. Injuries were secondary or, to put it another way, not proactively accepting the changes in physical attributes nor promptly adjusting the play style led to continuous injuries. At the age of 29 or 30, even if not injured, the physical attributes would naturally decline, requiring a change in playing habits promptly.

By the age of 30, Duncan had already shifted to a purely ground-based game, Kobe at 30 reduced his drives and switched to a post-up game, and James also changed his way of playing when he reached 30.

After advancing past half-court, Zhang Yang set aside his stray thoughts and focused on the offense... His eyes lit up, the one guarding the path between him and the basket was Nash!

He accelerated toward Nash.

Nash: ?

No way, aren’t you the one who mainly plays without the ball?

Damn! You’re just like the others, you want to hit me as soon as you see me!

Cursing inwardly, Nash confronted him... and got passed.

Marion came up from the wing to help, but Zhang Yang went straight to the basket, executed a Euro step; he took the first step and Stoudemire under the basket flew by, then two more steps and he easily scored!

Nash: Worthy of being my fan, so smart!

Facing Marion’s help defense, a quick pull-up jumper, no matter how swift, could be disrupted.

Marion may have a short neck, but at 201 cm tall, his effective height isn’t less than a 206 cm forward, and his wingspan is an impressive 218 cm, explosive athleticism, great at disturbing shots.

Facing Marion’s help defense, you have to drive; he doesn’t dare to stick close, their Suns team has only 8 main players, they can’t afford to foul easily, their average fouls per game is the fewest in the league... Nash: Wait, what am I admiring? I’m being targeted again!

Offense to defense, Nash and Marion use a pick-and-roll.

Gerald Wallace handled the pick-and-roll switch very well this time, cutting off the immediate connection between Nash and Stoudemire, who cut from the left baseline. When Nash found space to pass inside, Okafor had already followed into the basket to block Stoudemire.

Marion, who slipped through, got tangled up with Felton, so Nash didn’t pass and broke through!

Gerald Wallace couldn’t stop Nash’s rhythmic drive, but he stuck closely beside Nash without being completely passed.

As both were about to cross the extended free-throw line, Gerald Wallace prepared to press forward, but as he just leaned forward, the opponent intentionally closed in on him.

Gerald Wallace inwardly cursed, trying to dodge... Too late!

Nash jumped up, confronting the leaning Gerald Wallace, accompanied by the referee’s whistle, and kicked out his legs mid-air, releasing the ball in what looked like an archer rising up on horseback to shoot an arrow...

He scored a long two-pointer!

2+1!

Gerald Wallace put on a mask of pain, frustratedly clutching his head.

Zhang Yang, who was in the corner with Raja Bell, also let out an "Oh" and shook his head at the scene.

Guarding Nash is useless even if you cover the shooting space!

Give Nash even the slightest opening, and he’ll seize it!

Gerald Wallace’s defense was not at fault; even his preparatory movement to lunge forward was correct. If it wasn’t for him sticking close to Nash the moment he crossed the high position line, even someone with Wallace’s physical prowess couldn’t keep up with Nash then.

Once Nash gets into the close-range area, you have to press up; otherwise, he’ll just catch the ball and throw it.

Outside close range, Nash shoots wildly and accurately; inside close range, he’s fast and precise.

Don’t be fooled by Nash’s low scoring under the basket; he’s one of only two NBA point guards to ever post a season with over 70% shooting from under the hoop, the other being Tony Parker;

There are five guards this season with an average of more than one close-range field goal per game and a shooting percentage over 45%, including Nash. The other four are Parker, Kobe, Wade, and Zhang Yang. Even Felton, Paul, and Iverson are slightly off in shooting percentage this season.

If you can’t defend, then attack!

From defense to offense, Zhang Yang advanced to the frontcourt, with Raja Bell now guarding him, he quickly passed the ball to Felton.

Nash: I freaking knew it!

Seeing Felton rush forward, Nash fiercely contested... and got knocked aside.

Felton stepped back and hit a three-pointer!

Turning his head to watch the ball sink into the hoop, Nash: o(╥﹏╥)o, I’d rather guard Zhang Yang, at least the 18-year-old kid wouldn’t knock into people like that.

But after so many years in the NBA, Nash had gotten used to being beat up every other day. If the opponent had only one ball-dominant guard, that would be manageable, but with two, he was definitely targeted for a beating.