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Chapter 638 - 274. Battle Raja Bell Again!

Chapter 638: 274. Battle Raja Bell Again!

Coaching the other three took Nash just over half an hour, but coaching Zhang Yang took him from 9 a.m. straight through to noon.

After lunch, they bought two DVs, returned to Tuhang Stadium, and followed Felton to learn how to transmit videos, how to purchase paid email services, and how to send videos. Then they hurriedly went to the visiting team’s practice court to meet up with his teammates for combat training... It was a busy day indeed.

Fortunately, the Suns didn’t have many training programs, focusing only on offense and not in large amounts, so although his energy was greatly expended, he wasn’t physically tired.

After Suns’ practice ended, D’Antoni pulled Nash aside for a one-on-one chat.

D’Antoni, "Steve, did you have fun playing with those young players over there?"

Nash rolled his eyes, "I’ve just experienced a setback like never before."

D’Antoni, puzzled, "But you are the best player in the world, who could possibly set you back?"

Nash, "There’s the youngest FMVP in the world on the opposite side, what do you think?"

D’Antoni, "Haha, well, there’s nothing you can do about that. They were just incredibly lucky. Last season, the two least likely teams from the West that were supposed to win the championship were both knocked out early, just so they would meet the opponents they could turn the tables on."

Nash, "Yeah, that’s fate."

D’Antoni, "You say you’re set back, but it doesn’t seem like you’re very angry."

Nash, "At least the Spurs didn’t win the championship again... and the setback isn’t because a 19-year-old kid won a championship before me, it’s his talent. When I coached him, I only had to mention an idea, and he would grasp my point immediately. Not just that; he is unafraid to make mistakes and immediately tries to see if an idea is viable. I definitely didn’t have that kind of learning ability or boldness when I was younger."

D’Antoni, "The youngest FMVP, he’s always going to be a bit special... Sigh, such a pity, he’s already a champion."

Nash, "Oh? What’s that, Mike, do you have some thoughts about him?"

D’Antoni, "With his talent being so great, and his relationship with you so good, I, of course, would look forward to you eventually bringing him over to be your successor. Even though he beat Raja and our fans really don’t like him, if he said the word that he’s willing to join our team, our fans would storm the arena to drive Raja out."

Nash, "Haha, those words can’t be heard by anyone else... So why do you say it’s a pity?"

D’Antoni, "I thought that the Bobcats would at most become a team like the Nets, dominating the East but not able to beat the strong teams from the West. He’s staying in a small place like Charlotte without achieving true success. I expected that by the time his second contract is up, he might start thinking about leaving, but now that he’s won a championship, that hope is shattered."

Nash pondered for a moment, then said, "That’s hard to say, Mike. You’re not like us players; you don’t understand our thinking. If it were me, if I hadn’t won a championship but there was still hope, I wouldn’t want to leave, just like Kidd, right? The Nets couldn’t get past the first round, and then he began to think about leaving.

Having won a championship, I might even aspire to move to a more prosperous city..."

D’Antoni, "...Steve, you could have put that more delicately."

Nash, "..."

Damn it, corrupted by that bad boy Jack!

...

The Bobcats’ two days off ended, and on November 14th, a new week began.

In the morning, Zhang Yang didn’t receive a league award notification, which was frustrating.

Even though it was another undefeated week, he averaged only 14.6 points, 4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1 block per game, which was not competitive.

After the morning’s pre-game training ended, Zhang Yang and several teammates watched in the locker room to see who won the awards.

Eastern Conference Player of the Week, Yao Ming, with 3 wins and 1 loss in the last 4 games, averaged 25.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2.7 blocks.

Western Conference Player of the Week, Stoudemire, undefeated in 3 games, averaged 27 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.7 blocks.

Felton, "Last week it was Jack and Chris, this week it’s Yao and Stoudemire, all from the same draft class, is that a coincidence? It feels like the league is trying to create a narrative."

Hill, "That’s probably it, but their performances really deserve it, otherwise Stern wouldn’t be able to forcibly give them Player of the Week."

Zhang Yang, "I thought Emeka would get it, he averaged 24.6 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks last week, and lost by just 3 votes, such a pity."

The usually silent Okafor spoke up, "Yao did perform better than me last week; he put up those numbers playing only 32 minutes per game. I watched their game against the Nuggets, where Anthony, Martin, and Camby were all around him, and he was still able to pass out of it, something I can’t do."

Zhang Yang, in disbelief, "Emeka, why admire him? You should be angry, build up your rage, and explode against the Bulls next time!"

"..." Okafor was silent for two seconds, then said, "I understand."

His teammates inexplicably felt sympathy for Okafor.

Given Okafor’s nature, he wouldn’t likely contradict Zhang Yang’s statement. Since he accepted that, he would definitely try his best... but that’s Yao Ming, tough luck.

At 8:40 p.m., the main event began at Tuhang Stadium, the entry ceremony started.

The visiting Suns were first to the court, greeted by enthusiastic boos from the home fans, especially when Raja Bell entered, the boos reached a boiling point.

Ever since their establishment, the only team that the Bobcats fans truly despised and considered an enemy was the Suns.

As for the Knight and Pistons, whom they faced twice in the playoffs, the former weren’t disliked by the Bobcats fans. Instead, they quite enjoyed the match-ups.

The latter, having been conquered and crowned champions, did stir some hostility from the Bobcats fans, but it wasn’t outright hatred or loathing. It was more of a recognition of a formidable adversary.

Nash sensed the hostility and hate from the Bobcats fans. He thought the mustachioed man was overthinking it. Even if the bad boy Jack had plans to leave in the future, it was unlikely he’d choose them... But it didn’t matter, he had already left more of his mark in Zhang Yang’s style of play!

After the entrance ceremony, Zhang Yang and Nash were invited to a pre-game interview by the court’s channel.

Bobcats’ home games started at 9 PM, which was surely because a domestic TV station was broadcasting live.

Zhang Yang, who had been compared to Nash since his rookie season, now had also become an MVP, although only for the finals series. Nevertheless, he was considered a second-tier MVP, which made the court channel confident in comparing him to the league’s top stars without fearing backlash.

As a state media, it commanded respect, and Zhang Yang and Nash chatted awkwardly in front of the cameras.

The two claimed they were on good terms and trained together over the summer, but the journalist had a ’do you think I believe that?’ expression... Zhang Yang was helpless, let them hype it up as they wanted.

At 9 PM, with the referee’s whistle, Stoudemire beat Okafor and won the tip-off, starting the game with the Suns on offense.

Suns’ starting lineup: Nash, Raja Bell, Diaw, Marion, Stoudemire.

Bobcats’ starting lineup: Felton, Zhang Yang, Alan Anderson, Hill, Okafor.

Nash, taking the inbound, pushed to the frontcourt, excited to see Zhang Yang guarding the top of the arc, but also slightly annoyed—Bad boy Jack’s defense was not like his, thus diminishing the apprentice label.

Nash reached the top of the arc, feeling the pressure of Zhang Yang’s excellent positioning and fundamental defensive moves disrupting his shooting, he bent down and quickened his dribbling.

Normally, Nash doesn’t initiate pick and rolls. Marion and Stoudemire, depending on which defender was tougher, would volunteer to screen for Nash. But this time Nash didn’t ask for a pick and roll, both opting to spread out, aware that Nash intended to duel with Zhang Yang at the start.

Zhang Yang knew it too, and he defended with focused dedication.

After his teammates created space, Nash started his drive.

Zhang Yang was very familiar with Nash’s driving style and knew what kind of moves Nash might make, but still couldn’t stop Nash’s drive!

Nash drove to the right of the free throw line, and before the trailing Zhang Yang and the helping Hill could double-team him, he stopped abruptly and jumped for a shot... It was good!

The entire sequence from the drive to the jump shot was smooth and effortless!

Zhang Yang, rarely guarding Nash one-on-one, felt uneasy after their first encounter.

He anticipated Nash’s line of drive, but by the time he realized Nash was going to rush forward, it was already too late to stop him.

Just like when Zhang San drove, opponents knew he would spin and drive, but by the time he performed the spin move, they had already lost their chance to block him.

However, this wasn’t the source of his unease. Later, as he turned to chase and push up to disturb the shot, he felt just a fraction short of blocking it... Yet, he hadn’t managed to create any effective disturbance at all, not even helping Hill compress to form a double team.

During the offensive-defensive switch, Zhang Yang cast aside the slight frustration rising within him, ran to the frontcourt, and got stuck to by Raja Bell.

The stadium’s fans started cheering loudly, cries of ’Block Bell,’ ’Kill Bell,’ and ’Go Go Jack’ could be heard one after another.

Feeling Raja Bell’s aggressive defense, Zhang Yang had a sliver of admiration for this fellow high school classmate of Duncan’s; from undrafted to being one of the top defenders, he truly wasn’t ordinary, and after that incident, he felt no fear facing him.

Raja Bell and Duncan both attended St. Dunstan’s in the Virgin Islands during their high school years, although Duncan was a grade above Raja Bell. When Raja Bell became a campus basketball prodigy in middle school, Duncan was not yet notable in basketball. In 1990, when tenth-grader Duncan joined the school team and shot to fame, Raja Bell, having completed eighth grade, was invited to a high school in Florida and excitedly went to the mainland for his education.

Zhang Yang, moving to a high position while being pinned by Raja Bell’s aggressive no-ball defense, felt his confidence boost. Although he wasn’t as physically strong as guards like Felton or Wade, compared to Raja Bell, he was not far behind.

Last season, when matched against Raja Bell, Zhang Yang faced difficulty in physical confrontations, predominantly playing without the ball during their two encounters; he only took individual plays when Nash was switched onto him, or against the substitute Barbosa... But tonight, with the atmosphere so charged, of course, he had to take him on!

Zhang Yang established his position on the right side of the free-throw line and waved to Felton.

Seeing Zhang Yang firmly in position, Felton didn’t hesitate and lobbed the ball over.

Amidst the rising cheers of the audience, Zhang Yang’s emotions surged and he started to execute his back-down moves in real combat.

Fake spin, retreat step back, recover the step turning to face the basket, back step fake, pull the ball across one step... he still couldn’t shake Raja Bell!

Doing more moves would sap his strength for the shot, Zhang Yang didn’t care anymore, turned his body to lean on Raja Bell, spun around, and jumped!

Although Zhang Yang could now confront Raja Bell, he couldn’t push him back. Raja Bell rushed up immediately, providing substantial interference!

But in that moment, Zhang Yang was surprisingly calm; he leaned back to avoid Raja Bell’s block, tried hard to maintain his balance, and ensured his shooting force as he released the ball...

Zhang Yang used all his strength to ensure the stability of his shot. As the ball left his hands, he fell backwards, hitting the ground. Concurrently, the ball, tracing a parabola, hit nothing but net!