12dz Chapter 50 Halftime: McGrady is going to teach Wang Xiucheng how to shoot free throws?
Chapter 50 Halftime: McGrady is going to teach Wang Xiucheng how to shoot free throws?
Upon hearing this, Lillard's mind went completely blank!
He was actually playing for his country!
Moreover, he was experimenting on these rocket teammates!
Or to put it more bluntly.
He was using these teammates to hone his skills, including his own opponents and the Trail Blazers, all of whom Wang Xiucheng considered as experience.
If he can bring out all these teammates of varying abilities, it proves that he has the ability to bring out his national team teammates as well!
The Trail Blazers were on offense, but Lillard stood at the center line as if he had been put on pause.
pattern!
Wang Xiucheng's vision is truly remarkable.
Are all Chinese people living for others?
Wang Xiucheng slowly passed by Lillard, and his voice clearly reached Lillard's ears.
"Does scoring 50 or 60 points guarantee a win in the game?"
"You should remember that playoff game against the Nuggets a few months ago in June, right?"
Wang Xiucheng said, "You scored 55 points in that game. You were the brightest star in the game. The whole crowd applauded for you. Even Jokic was impressed. But the Trail Blazers lost."
Lost!
Lillard was instantly struck dumb, his whole body trembling slightly.
He remembers, how could he not remember!
In that series, the Trail Blazers lost to the Nuggets 2-4.
In particular, his fifth game, in which he scored 55 points, ended in double overtime against the Nuggets, which also shattered his spirit.
Wang Xiucheng's words made Lillard feel that his long-held beliefs seemed to be crumbling.
"But if I can get all my teammates to score even 10 points, then I believe no one can beat us."
Lillard felt a chill run down his spine.
I was actually taught a lesson by a novice who was not even 20 years old, and it actually made a lot of sense.
Lillard didn't know how the first quarter ended either.
As he sat on the bench, Wang Xiucheng's words were still echoing in his mind.
At the end of the first quarter, the Trail Blazers led 30-27 by three points.
After the break, the second quarter began.
Lillard rested on the bench and did not play.
Meanwhile, Rockets' Jalen Green also got a rest.
The team was led by Wang Xiucheng, who was composed entirely of substitutes.
Although he was a substitute, his performance was of a very high standard.
The five rookies sprinted all over the court, running and jumping with incredible speed, leaving the Trail Blazers' veterans, who weren't exactly old, panting heavily.
In less than 5 minutes, the Rockets went on a 14-8 run.
Billups had no choice but to call a timeout.
He looked at Lillard and saw that his eyes were once again filled with fighting spirit, so Billups substituted Lillard and several other key players onto the court.
Billups didn't know what Wang Xiucheng and Lillard said, but after Lillard left the court, his eyes were unfocused for several minutes, as if his mind wasn't on the game at all.
Fortunately, it passed quickly.
The game restarted, and the Rockets didn't make any substitutions; it was still Wang Xiucheng leading a few teammates.
Lillard had the ball and, after setting a screen, was still a step away from the three-point line when he launched a three-pointer.
Swish!
They're in.
Lillard smirked and said to Wang Xiucheng, "You almost tricked me. I didn't win the game because I didn't score enough points. 55 wasn't enough, so I made 65. 65 wasn't enough, so I made 75. Come on, all of you come at me, haha."
Wang Xiucheng also smiled.
Lillard is right.
As a marksman, you should have this kind of spirit and mindset.
But I also have my own principles.
Upon receiving a pass from Shen Jing, Wang Xiucheng dribbled forward, faked out Lillard who was trying to steal the ball, and then threw the ball into the three-second zone.
McCollum, who was not far away, jumped over to try to block the shot. Wang Xiucheng, who was in the air, changed his movement smoothly and passed the ball to Christopher with a bounce pass. Christopher then made a long two-pointer.
Swish!
The ball goes in.
The Rockets couldn't stop Lillard's scoring.
The Trail Blazers couldn't stop the Rockets' playmaking.
The two teams were evenly matched for a time.
It wasn't until the Rockets brought in their starting lineup that the Trail Blazers gradually gained the lead.
If you only watch highlights and not the full game, you'd hardly notice the huge difference between the Rockets' two lineups.
The Rockets' home fans are already used to it.
It's normal for the starters to concede points and the substitutes to catch up.
Thus, at the end of the first half, the Trail Blazers led the Rockets 55-45, a 10-point advantage.
McGrady and Olajuwon, watching from the sidelines, were shaking their heads.
They can understand a team tanking, but does this kind of tanking really help these young players?
Seeing the Rockets players walking down the bench, McGrady unexpectedly got up, jogged over to the bench, and pulled Wang Xiucheng aside.
Wang Xiucheng was also taken aback, wondering who was so bold.
"Hey T-Mac." Wang Xiucheng greeted T-Mac as soon as he saw it was him.
For most Chinese fans, Tracy McGrady's status during his time with the Rockets was second only to Yao Ming, and even on par with superstars like Kobe Bryant.
McGrady did not disappoint the Chinese fans. In the final stages of his career, McGrady came to China and joined Qingdao, where he began his retirement tour.
The incredible feat of scoring 13 points in 35 seconds has become a cherished memory for countless Chinese football fans.
McGrady gestured for Wang Xiucheng to wait a moment, then went to Silas's side, said something to him, and Silas smiled and nodded before leaving the bench with his assistant coaches.
"I asked Silas for ten minutes off for you, come here." McGrady took off his jacket and threw it on the bench chair, then picked up a basketball from under the scorer's table.
Wang Xiucheng didn't understand why, but he still went along.
Fans who were about to take a break and grab a bite to eat saw McGrady and Wang Xiucheng still on the court and started watching out of curiosity.
In the Penguin Live broadcast room, the hosts and guests, who were originally preparing to take a break, unusually did not cut off the live camera at this moment.
Yang Yi asked curiously, "McGrady kept Wang Xiucheng behind. He must have spoken to Silas beforehand. What's he planning to do?"
The answer was soon revealed.
McGrady took the ball, made the free throw, then picked it up himself and threw it to Wang Xiucheng.
"Your free throws are terrible. Don't even compare to Yao; you're only at Shaq's level," McGrady shouted.
During halftime, loud music was playing in the stadium, and unless you were very close, you couldn't hear a normal conversation.
Wang Xiucheng scratched his head awkwardly.
I had five free throw opportunities in the first half, but only made two, which is indeed unacceptable for a point guard.
To Wang Xiucheng's surprise, was McGrady going to personally teach him how to shoot free throws?
Although a few minutes may not change anything, I will remember this favor.
Whether McGrady acted out of his own volition or out of respect for Yao Ming, it doesn't matter.
"Your hand form is clearly off. If your accuracy were good, you wouldn't need to change it, but since your accuracy is so low right now, maybe changing it will make a difference. Show me a free throw..."