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Chapter 563 - 244. Unprecedented game experience

Chapter 563: 244. Unprecedented game experience

Sefolosha played defense with a calm, steady resilience. Standing at 201 centimeters, this large guard combined both physique and speed. He could even sink to defend point guards like Paul and Lawson, but his pressing defense was somewhat lacking.

The 09-10 season was Sefolosha’s peak defensive performance year, with the then 26-year-old being selected to the second defensive team... only to be utterly dominated in the playoffs by the powerful, shoot-first-ask-questions-later Kobe.

Eventually, the Thunder Team was forced to have Durant defend Kobe, which worked well. The Thunder Team won two consecutive games to even the series. But then Durant simply got exhausted by Kobe, especially during the pivotal Game 5. Durant couldn’t keep up, making only 5 out of 14 shots. The Thunder Team was crushed 87 to 111... From 08 to 10, those three years saw the smallest gap in strength among western playoff teams. In 10, although the Lakers and Thunder Team were ranked first and eighth in the west respectively, the difference in their records was only seven games, while the gap between the second-ranked Magic and third-ranked Hawks team in the East was already six games.

Yet, a difference of seven wins resulted in a brutal 24-point defeat, which served as an excellent proof of the maxim—physical strength is the ultimate talent.

Zhang Yang watched a few of the Thunder Team’s last regular-season games two days ago and arrived in Oklahoma City yesterday. He asked the video editor for footage of Kobe playing against the Thunder Team from 2010 and finalized his strategy.

Over the past year, Zhang Yang’s physical condition had a ’secondary development’; he was not just prominent among guards but even among small forwards.

Facing Sefolosha’s defense, he easily created conditions for a complete shooting motion using his strength advantage.

Zhang Yang jumped fully, shot with a complete motion, and Sefolosha could only watch the ball fly over his head and into the hoop!

Seeing Zhang Yang easily overpower Sefolosha, Harden felt immense pressure, yet was incredibly excited.

When it was the Thunder Team’s turn to attack, Harden advanced to the frontcourt. Containing his impulsiveness against Zhang Yang’s defense, he followed the process and fed the ball to the leader for a spin.

Harden and Zhang Yang played together for three years in high school, and during college, they had been classmates and teammates for two years. From Zhang Yang, Harden learned an ’internal struggle’ strategy—’far away friend, close attack.’

When confronted with teammates who posed positional or role conflicts, he would strike hard and compete actively; with teammates in different positions, he maintained good relations to win their support.

Since entering the NBA, Harden has done exactly that. He managed to push out Westbrook, who joined the NBA a year before him and was adored by local fans, with Durant’s support certainly playing a role.

Durant played a high iso against Earl Clark. Relying on his height advantage, he pulled up for a mid-range shot and scored!

Zhang Yang saw this and his mouth twitched—Durant, at 206 centimeters, managing to shoot over the 208-centimeter Earl Clark because of his height advantage, was a truly magical basketball world.

In the transition from defense to offense, Nash continued to transform; he passed to Zhang Yang and then spread out.

Watching Sefolosha press towards Zhang Yang and stick close to him, Nash on the wing immediately signaled to Earl Clark, who had spread to the left mid-range...

Ibaka, on the other hand, noticing the change in Sefolosha’s defense, also prepared for defense...

Zhang Yang, playing high post back to Sefolosha, felt the defensive change. He leaned in, probed forward, then spun and burst through!

Offensive master Nash and defensive master Ibaka both correctly predicted Zhang Yang’s play.

Nash lifted from the side and ran towards the top of the key using Earl Clark’s screen.

Don’t be fooled by Nash’s 39 years. His short burst of speed was so quick that even Durant, switching on defense, couldn’t immediately block the passing lane between Nash and Zhang Yang.

After setting the screen, Earl Clark cut in. Harden defended the pick-and-roll and unfortunately, couldn’t stop him.

But Ibaka moved into position, keeping Earl Clark outside the three-second area.

After blocking Earl Clark, Ibaka looked towards the top of the key; Durant was now defending Nash, and that shouldn’t be difficult to handle... huh? Why doesn’t Nash have the ball? Hey, what are the fans screaming about?

Just then, a sound of rim-rattling came from behind, and Ibaka turned to look at the basket—Zhang Yang was descending from the air!

Nash, Earl Clark, Harden, Durant, and Ibaka, all five were ’playing’ offense and defense ’enthusiastically.’

The scene the fans saw was Zhang Yang, at the high post, spinning past Sefolosha and heading straight for the basket. Confronting the help defense of Perkins, he pulled out a Euro step, took two big leaps, landed behind Perkins’s right, took off from the spot, and slammed the ball with one hand!

The team coordination Nash wanted and the opposing team coordination Ibaka anticipated were ’correct’ plays. However, Zhang Yang had no intention of playing normally against the opposing side that evening.

With nearly a 20-game difference in overall strength, Zhang Yang knew that playing normally nearly eliminated the chance of winning. He had to play more aggressively; he was one of the few starting players with a favorable matchup, and he needed to exploit this advantage.

One on one, he must shoot; one on two, if it wasn’t a double team but rather this kind of ordinary defense with one in front and one behind, he still had to shoot!

When the Thunder Team attacked again, Harden took charge himself. Excitedly lowering his center of gravity, he started dribbling quickly in front of Zhang Yang, who was also excitedly guarding the top of the key.

Harden suddenly accelerated to the left. His explosive first step was very fast, but Zhang Yang anticipated Harden’s direction and quickly moved laterally to stay level.

Harden, weighing 100 kilograms and equally strong, maintained balance during the confrontation, quickly changing direction and pushing toward the right.

Zhang Yang swiftly turned and kept up, closely following Harden’s steps. The line between him and Harden remained parallel to the baseline, never completely losing position.

Artest moved in from the wing, and Gasol also reached the right side of the charge circle, preparing to trap Harden with a three-man defense.