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Chapter 558 - 241. The experience has become more difficult!

Chapter 558: 241. The experience has become more difficult!

"Training Mode:

Name: Zhang Yang.

Age: 24 years old (born June 6, 1988)

Height: 196 cm, Wingspan: 210 cm, Weight: 95 kg.

Ability Assessment: Three-pointer 88, mid-range 92 (ceiling 94), layup 93 (ceiling), ball control 89, passing 84, speed 92, strength 89, jumping 90, stamina 93...

Training Gains: Steve Nash’s ball-handling rhythm (Intermediate), improved continuous jumping ability, Devil’s Pace, Post-play rhythm from ’Big Bird’ (Intermediate), slight increase in core strength, overachieving, art of playing with back to the basket, ’I Age Slowly’ (Intermediate)..."

Looking at the ability assessment just two months shy of turning 25, Zhang Yang recalled the assessment from ’last year’ when he had just turned 24 during the finals, noticing his three-point shooting had skyrocketed from just over 80 to 88.

Layup increased by 1 point, reaching the ceiling... approaching 25-years-old with layups hitting the ceiling should be the talent ceiling.

The base talent ceiling for layups is higher than for mid-range shots; after a +5 talent boost for mid-range, the ceiling can reach 94.

At just 24 years old, his mid-range was 91. In 10 months it increased by 1 point. After becoming a top mid-range shooter, the pace of improvement really slowed down a lot, even with the talent for 94. But considering some players never manage to achieve mid-range shots, and even a hard-working player like Duncan could only master 45-degree angle mid-range shots on both wings... his steady progress seemed quite decent.

The improvement in passing and controlling was limited, with ball-handling staying the same while passing increased from 81 to 84 since he turned 24.

Speed, strength, endurance, and jumping all improved to varying degrees. This was due to the talents drawn from not visiting this timeline for a year and a half.

There was a significant improvement in techniques, likely referring to the new scoring skills developed during the year and a half he didn’t visit this timeline.

Ten months ago’ during the finals, his scoring skills were rather one-dimensional, and he often scored within the system.

After reviewing the training information, Zhang Yang didn’t rush to confirm his mission as it was still early, just past 6 a.m. He got up and walked around the house, finding the study... all kinds of figurines, lights on, all kinds of light pollution... Crap! The study of his dreams!

Zhang San decided he’d also get one when he got back... Those things didn’t seem to be popular back then, but being unpopular didn’t mean they weren’t available. Various lighting fixtures were always on sale, and figurines could be acquired. Customizing a unique computer desk would do.

Imagine inviting Duncan over for dinner, taking him to the study, turning on the carousel lights, playing the songs of Phoenix Legend, and watching the simpleton die of envy.

The plan seems hard to execute... considering he just defeated the Stone Buddha in the finals... Maybe he could also invite the Devil’s Blade, who had praised Zhang San even after losing the finals. Plan approved!

He then checked the internet for the specific situation of the Thunder Team, wondering how such a big guy could have just disappeared.

Without looking, you wouldn’t know, but upon checking, what a surprise it was to see Harden start competing with Westbrook for the main control during the 10-11 Western Conference Finals.

The touchpaper was Westbrook being held to a 30% shooting percentage by Kidd and Chandler’s combination defense in the first four games, insisting on taking 20 shots per game, while Harden, with a 53% shooting rate, was reduced to mere single digits.

Trailing 1-3, Harden refused to pass to Westbrook after coming off the bench in G5, taking matters into his own hands with 17 shots for 9 hits to score 25 points and 6 assists, also helping Durant to score 31 points in that game. The Thunder Team was leading the Mavericks by 3 points with 22 seconds left... and then Terry hit a three-pointer, followed by a steal from Kidd on Harden’s turn-over, and Nowitzki’s last-second mid-range shot sealed the game...

The first attempt to seize control ended anticlimactically. Harden was attacked by fans for his key moment error after the Thunder Team’s elimination. Westbrook had more fans in Oklahoma City than Durant, so Harden’s attempt to seize control obviously displeased Westbrook’s fans.

But, in Oklahoma City, the number of fans who disliked Westbrook outnumbered those who disliked Harden and Durant combined, and there were also many supporters of Harden.

As a polarizing player, for every person who loved him, there was someone who hated him.

By the start of the 11-12 season, Harden directly stated to the Thunder Team management that if he wasn’t allowed to start and control the ball, they should trade him away, claiming he could be the core wherever he went.

Whether this upset the Thunder management and coaching staff, nobody knew, but Harden’s aggressive stance and the outstanding performance as the main controller in game 5 of last season’s Western Conference Finals won the approval of the Thunder owner.

In the regular season of the 11-12, the Thunder Team truly felt like it had ’Three Youngsters,’ with Durant averaging 26 points, Harden 23 points, and Westbrook 21 points...

Zhang Yang stopped his research there and checked the official website where he saw, to his astonishment, Harden’s fight for control helped his idol, the Old Blacksmith, win a scoring champ! Kobe managed to secure the scoring title in the 11-12 season with an average of 27.9 points per game, edging out James with 27.1 points per game.

With two lieutenants fighting so fiercely, Durant didn’t seem to care and even possibly sacrificed his shooting rights for them... Zhang Yang opened the Thunder Team page and sure enough, in the just-ended season, Harden averaged 25 points while Durant averaged 27 points.

Durant’s thought process was something Zhang Yang could hardly empathize with.

While Zhang San wasn’t that interested in being the boss either, if he had the ability, he would never allow anyone to take his shooting rights if he didn’t want to give them up.

In the Thunder Team’s player stats, Westbrook was no longer there.

However, the Thunder Team ended up with a 63-19 record, better than what Zhang Yang remembered the Thunder achieving the first year after Harden’s departure. In other words, Harden + Durant was a more effective combination than Westbrook + Durant.

Zhang Yang searched for Westbrook’s transfer details—In the 11-12 season, losing the competition to Harden in his third year and not renewing his contract with the Thunder in advance, Westbrook received a max offer from the Rockets during the offseason and chose to leave. The Thunder executed a sign-and-trade, and Westbrook joined the Rockets with a 5-year $85 million max contract, with Kevin Martin being sent to the Thunder in return.

Revisiting the Thunder Team’s page, Zhang Yang opened Harden’s profile... as expected, Harden’s shot chart was very even!

Without moving to the Rockets to play hero ball, Harden didn’t become the prince of step-back threes or the Jingdezhen king. Playing 80 games, he averaged 25 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 7.1 assists, with a 39% three-point shooting rate, 41% for long two-pointers, 40% for mid-range, 65% for layups, and an overall 46.1% shooting rate...

Zhang Yang opened the Lakers’ page and looked for himself.

Season average of 22.5 points, 21 points in the first 52 games, but the back leg injuries have been dragging him down a bit.

Looking at just the Lakers’ 30 games, he averaged 25.8 points, a field goal percentage of 47.2%, and a three-point percentage of 40.6%.

Zhang Yang is still stronger than Harden!

But when comparing team rosters... They’re down a Kobe while Harden has Durant.

In terms of bench depth, they’re not at much of a disadvantage, with Blake, Meeks, Jamison, Jordan Hill; it’s passable. Head coach D’Antoni can go with a 9-man rotation in the playoffs, which is more than enough. If worse comes to worst, they could let Sakic match up against Perkins.

The main issue is that the Thunder Team’s roster depth isn’t great, the owner’s too stingy. This year looks okay with Kevin Martin, who’s a backup making 12 million, but after his contract expired, the Thunder Team wasn’t willing to even offer a 3-year deal worth 20 million, and they just watched Kevin Martin leave, after which their bench went downhill year after year.

However, the Lakers’ frontcourt is lacking compared to the opposition; the starting lineup is Earl Clark, Artest, and Gasol versus Durant, Ibaka, and Perkins on the other side.

In Gate of Trials mode, it’s the first time Zhang Yang is facing such a challenging battle.

But looking at it from another angle, he’s never been this strong. As the number one scorer and the primary defensive target of opponents, he was still consistently scoring over 25 points a game, and his shooting efficiency was high, even before the small-ball era. As the difficulty of the trials increases, it seems only natural.

So, when he goes to the 80s timeline, he’ll probably face an aging roster, draft failures, and a lack of succession...

Zhang Yang reopened the Gate of Trials and looked at the three optional tasks.

Just seeking one victory... the requirement is too low.

The miracle of the eighth seed... taking too big a step can lead to pulling a groin.

Choose the medium difficulty then!

With a thought, Zhang Yang changed the task wording.

"Custom task: We can win more, Objective: Win at least two games against the Thunder Team in the first round, Reward: Reaper (Beginner Level).

Reaper (Beginner Level): The instinct of a killer. In the last 24 seconds of the game, when your team is behind by 3 points or less, and you have possession of the ball, your stamina temporarily recovers to its optimal state.

Base Task: The Glory of the Four Giants, Objective: Make it to the second round of the playoffs, Reward: Fading away is just a habit."

Zhang Yang: (눈‸눈)

What does The Glory of the Four Giants have to do with him? Could it be that the broken gate thinks he’s part of the ’Four Giants’ with Nash, Kobe, and Gasol because he was traded for Howard?

Thinking like this, his mood greatly improved!

The base task is to be the eighth seed... It’s indeed basic.

But that’s fine, the first goal is to fight for two wins. The eighth seed... Having made it to the playoffs, the natural aim stepping onto the court is to win the series. He chose the medium difficulty task just to increase the odds of getting the reward.

After closing the laptop, Zhang Yang grabbed some food; the fridge was stocked with everything, and there were notes from his mom marking the dates the ingredients were bought.

Zhang San is almost 25 and still living off his parents... Could it be that even the house was bought by his dad?

But now he’s encountered a bit of a problem—where is this? How does he get to the stadium? Should he take a taxi?

As he was checking his phone for any car rental company numbers, the doorbell rang.

Zhang Yang went to open the door... It’s Mr. Nash!

Zhang Yang checked the time; it wasn’t even 8 o’clock. He asked, "Steve, you’re up early."

Nash: "Not as early as you, you’re up at 6 am again, right? When you stayed at my place three years ago, it was the same. You’ve been in the NBA for quite a few years now, and that good habit of yours hasn’t changed."

Zhang Yang: "Yeah, it’s a habit, so where are you off to so early?"

Nash: "You didn’t forget about the event, did you?"

Zhang Yang didn’t know what event it was, but he acted as if he just had an epiphany and said, "Oh right, I forgot. Let’s go then. Today I’ll ride with you; I don’t feel like driving."

Nash gave him a peculiar look: "Are you sure?"

Zhang Yang nodded; he didn’t know the way.

Nash did not say anything else and led Zhang Yang out of the yard to the curbside where he opened the car door... Zhang Yang felt someone’s gaze on him.

The old blacksmith was sitting in the passenger seat of Mr. Nash’s car, eyeing Zhang San with a hostile look!