12dz Chapter 88 Alexander: We've been tricked!
Chapter 88 Alexander: We've been tricked!
Tate raised his hand innocently and explained to the baseline referee.
The referee just kept shaking his head, not wanting to say anything more to this undrafted player.
Alexander made the free throw, completing a three-point play.
Wang Xiucheng patted Tate's butt and whispered something in his ear.
This made Alexander, who was on his way back to defend, furrow his brow.
An air of conspiracy emanated from Wang Xiucheng.
The game continued, with two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Neither side made any substitutions.
Both Silas and Mark Degnoter knew that this was a crucial moment, and whoever brought on a substitute first was likely to collapse.
Both sides seemed to score few points in the third quarter, but this was precisely the result of their mutual restraint.
Wang Xiucheng dribbled forward, and Tate quickly went down the wing. As soon as Wang Xiucheng crossed the center line, Tate came up to meet him, seemingly to provide a screen for him.
Alexander stepped aside to let Tate provide cover; he just needed to avoid being switched off by Tate.
But before he could get close to Wang Xiucheng, Tate ducked and ran off again. This caught Bazley, who was marking Tate, off guard. When Bazley stopped to chase after Tate, it was too late for the 206cm tall Bazley.
Alexander gritted his teeth, pushed off with his feet, and almost instantly burst forward, lunging towards Tate.
He remembered Wang Xiucheng's "ball-leading" pass just now, so he didn't dare to delay.
Swish!
But before Alexander could even get into position, the sound of the ball going into the net rang out behind him.
He seemed to sense something and quickly looked at Wang Xiucheng.
Wang Xiucheng had one foot outside the three-point line and the other inside, his hand slowly descending as he released the ball.
It should be a step-back shot.
Alexander instantly recognized the ball in his mind.
Tate walked past Alexander with a smug look on his face.
It's as if he scored the goal himself.
In the next two possessions, neither the Thunder nor the Rockets scored.
With 13 seconds left, it was the Rockets' final offensive possession of the third quarter.
Wang Xiucheng had the ball, and Tate once again brought Bazley over to screen for him.
Alexander took another step back, and Tate ran away again.
This time, Alexander didn't chase after Tate. Bazley was prepared, and he ran towards the baseline almost one after the other with Tate.
But with a loud thud, Bazley crashed directly into Shin Kyung, who had been standing there for more than a second.
Shin Kyung even raised her hands and hunched her neck to indicate that she hadn't moved at all.
The referee didn't call a foul, and Tate had already slid along the baseline to the basket.
Then Tate jumped high, caught the basketball that Wang Xiucheng threw to him, and slammed it into the basket with one hand.
beep!
The third quarter is over.
Tate excitedly jumped off the basket, first bumping fists with Shen Jing, then running to Wang Xiucheng who was waiting for them.
“Well done, Your Majesty,” Tate said.
Tate and Wang Xiucheng don't usually talk much.
Tate came up from the Development League, while Wang Xiucheng has never played a single game in the Development League.
Although both were undrafted players, Tate was self-aware enough to know that Wang Xiucheng, like Green Shenjing, was a key player for the Rockets' future development.
No matter how well you play, you can only get a mid-level contract.
It depends on whether Silas will give himself a chance.
“We’ll just keep running like this in the fourth quarter,” Wang Xiucheng said with a smile, his voice even a little loud.
This infuriated Alexander, who was passing by.
He knew Wang Xiucheng was doing it on purpose, but there was nothing he could do.
“Good, you guys take a break.” Silas stood in the arena and bumped fists with Wang Xiucheng and the others.
The score in the third quarter was 21-20, with the Thunder winning the quarter by one point.
However, the Rockets were not inferior in terms of play, and even did a better job in terms of ball distribution.
It's just that Alexander's individual scoring ability is stronger than the Rockets', and there's nothing that can be done about it.
"Take a break. You guys will be coming on later. Be careful on defense." Silas looked at Martin and Christopher and the others.
Penguin Live Room.
Wang Meng routinely read out an advertisement for a sports protective equipment brand, and then said, "Wang Xiucheng has already scored 8 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds. There's still one quarter left in the game. Is it possible for him to get his first triple-double today?"
Wang Shipeng and Yang Yi exchanged a glance, both seeing the expectation in each other's eyes.
"I don't remember who the youngest player to record a triple-double in the NBA was, but he must have been at least 20 years old, right?" Yang Yi pushed up his glasses. "If I can really get a triple-double today, that record will be significantly improved."
Wang Shipeng nodded: "A double-double is not difficult for Wang Xiucheng, but due to his height and position on the court, Wang Xiucheng has always had few rebounds. Today, he was able to grab so many rebounds thanks to the two teams' low shooting percentages."
Wang Meng had been looking down at something, and after half a minute he suddenly interrupted, "I found it. The youngest player to record a triple-double in the NBA is the same player who played against Wang Xiucheng a few days ago."
“在今年1月份的时候，鲍尔在对阵老鹰的时候，拿下了22分、12个篮板和11次助攻，当时他19岁140天。”
"Very young!"
Yang Yi and the others all acknowledged this.
"But how can you compare to Wang Xiucheng?"
Wang Xiucheng will only be 19 next month.
“Now, 19 is already considered very young to be in the league.”
"Lillard is already 22 when he entered the league."
Yang Yi and Wang Shipeng talked back and forth like they were performing a comedy routine, completely ignoring the fact that this matter had absolutely nothing to do with Lillard.
It seems that Wang Xiucheng has already secured the triple-double.
"Oh, right," Wang Meng said at this moment, "We received news before the game that Porter Jr., who had a triple-double in the last game, had a rebound deducted. In other words, Porter Jr.'s triple-double was canceled, and he is no longer the Rockets' youngest triple-double record holder."
Wang Meng suppressed a laugh, even though he knew it was very impolite, but for some reason, the whole thing was just so funny.
Yang Yi didn't care at all, chuckled, and shook his head, saying, "What a pity, what a pity."
What a pity, my ass! Is that a look of pity on your face?
"The fourth quarter has started, and the Rockets' substitutes have come on. Hmm, how about we chat about Wang Xiucheng for a bit more?"
Both the Rockets and the Thunder fielded their reserve lineups at the game.
Although they were called substitutes, the substitutes from both teams were quite capable in scoring.
When the game was paused, the Thunder led the Rockets 85-84 by one point.
Everyone knew that the time for the final battle had come.
Both head coaches seemed to be on steroids, gesturing wildly and drawing symbols on the tactics board.
But in reality, it can be summarized in just two sentences.
"Give the ball to Alexander."
"Pass the ball to Wang Xiucheng."
The timeout was over quickly, and the game finally resumed as the sexy and glamorous cheerleaders left the court.
The Rockets initiated the attack.
Tate, who already had great stamina, was fully recovered after the rest and ran all over the court as soon as he stepped onto the court.
Although Tate's defender had been changed to Treman, Tate occasionally managed to switch onto Robinson Earl using screens from Shin Kyung.
With Robinson Earl on the perimeter, Wang Xiucheng had already gotten the ball into Shen Jing's hands.
Without even bothering to dribble, Shen Jing simply leaped up and slammed the ball over the head of Treman, who was only 191cm tall.
Treman shrugged helplessly.
Alexander patted Treman's backside, then caught the ball and moved forward.
It's just switching positions, it's not like I can't do it.
Alexander, positioned at the top of the key, directed his teammates' movements, and after a few attempts, switched to defend Shen Jing.
With a crossover, he drove straight into the paint, and Alexander hit a long two-pointer.
The ball goes in.
But just after landing, Alexander suddenly sighed.
He was fooled!