I'm not really a role player

Chapter 18 The Last Step to Overthrow North Carolina

At the beginning of the second half, North Carolina and the University of Texas both changed players.

On one side, Tyler Hansbrough, who performed poorly in the first half, was put on the bench, and on the other side, Damien James replaced AJ Abrams.

Neither of the two substitutions attracted attention. After all, judging from the entire first half, whether it was Hansbrough or the University of Texas' double-short guards, adjustments should have been made long ago.

Then, the game started, North Carolina's offensive round.

Li Ke was a little confused when he couldn't see Taylor Hansbrough.

Fortunately, Xiao Du reminded him immediately: "Your current opponent is Ray Sean Terry!"

Therefore, Li Ke rushed to Rayshawn Terry quickly.

Li Ke was still a little confused to defend Rayshawn Terry, because compared to Hansbrough who had studied for several nights, his understanding of Rayshawn Terry was only a few words from the coaching staff before the game, and some of Rayshawn Terry's performances in the first half of the game.

As a result, Li Ke made a mistake in the first round of defense.

Rayshaun Terry crossed from the left side, and after entering the penalty area, relying on a cover from Alex Stephenson, he suddenly ran back and threw away Li Ke, received a pass from Lawson, took advantage of the opportunity, and made a layup.

At the basket, Aqili defended Stephenson first, and when he turned around to cover Ray Shaun Terry, he was already a step too late.

Seeing Rayshaun Terry score and the score gap further widened by 2 points, Aqili yelled: "Whose person!?"

Li Ke spread his hands in a grievance: "No one told me that this guy can still cut empty..."

Indeed, throughout the first half, Rayshaun Terry's style of play was catch-and-shoot from the outside. He patronized Rayshawn Terry's three-pointer. He didn't expect that this guy would make an air cut, and he didn't even expect that he would be thrown away with just one screen.

Looking back at the offense, Li Ke was still the same as in the first half, playing soy sauce, and the occasional air cuts, under the zone defense tactics, did not appear to be threatening.

Augustin and Xiao Du picked and rolled the ball, and the ball was in Xiao Du's hands. Xiao Du directly hit a long-range two-pointer, and with a bang, it missed the frame.

Back in the defensive round, Li Ke became more careful.

Rayshaun Terry has been in the NCAA for many years, and it is indeed impossible for him to be just a peripheral shooter. I am afraid that it is just the most basic scoring method of this guy, and it will not be surprising to use any special offensive methods next.

Li Ke stared at Leishaun Terry honestly, and finally nothing happened.

North Carolina didn't score either, which is not good news for the University of Texas, because they didn't score in the subsequent offense.

When they scored a goal, North Carolina also scored a goal.

Early in the second half, Texas' trail seemed to be anchored, seven points all the way.

Rick Barnes also called a timeout during this period, and even made a substitution. He replaced Augustin with Abrams.

The University of Texas was changing people back and forth, and the more they changed, the more uncomfortable Li Ke became.

He didn't play with Damien James much, so that as soon as Damien James came up, he took up the space that originally belonged to him, and he was a little unable to move. Now, the offense of the University of Texas is very frustrated, and Li Ke also added some empty cuts.

But in this way, the offense of the University of Texas is even more chaotic.

Rick Barnes called another timeout and replaced Li Ke.

On the North Carolina side, Roy Williams immediately took this opportunity to replace Taylor Hansbrough, who had been sitting off the court for a long time.

This back and forth, the balance on the court was immediately broken.

Without Li Ke's restrictions, Hansbrough, who appeared on the stage, just found his state for a while during the two rounds of offense, and then fired at full power.

On the University of Texas side, after Li Ke was replaced, the offense that had been gradually gaining momentum was evened out by Hansbrough's outburst.

Off the court, looking at Tyler Hansbrough, who was facing Aqili's defense and taking whatever he wanted, Li Ke was a little confused again.

"It's not that this guy doesn't deserve his name, nor is he in a bad state, so why did he beat me so badly..."

Seeing Hansbrough's status slowly rising, Rick Barnes couldn't sit still anymore.

Replace Li Ke, attack urgently, replace Li Ke, defensively urgently.

Can't there be one who is not in a hurry?

The lesser of two evils, after much deliberation, Rick Barnes really couldn't stand Hansbrough scoring again and again, as if he was going to take over the game, he called Li Ke from the bench again.

"Sheldon, it's your turn!"

Li Ke got up immediately and stood beside Rick Barnes.

"Go up, beat that Tyler Hansbrough like you did in the first half!"

Although Hansbrough scored consecutively and his performance was very different from the first half, Li Ke was still full of confidence at the moment.

"Don't worry, coach!"

Returning to the field, Li Ke faced Taylor Hansbrough again.

"Hi."

Li Ke greeted him as if seeing an old friend.

Hansbrough curled his lips, as if to say that he is different now.

Immediately afterwards, he started and rushed out two steps.

Ty Lawson gave the ball over, not to let Hansbrough avenge the first half, but during this period of time, Hansbrough, who has regained his offensive sense, is already the core of North Carolina's offense.

Hansbrough received the ball and singled.

Then, regaining his confidence, he encountered the same problem as in the first half.

"Taylor Hansbrough made a frontal breakthrough, and Sheldon Lee stood in front of him like a wall!"

There was no other way, Hansbrough could only make a jumper.

bang!
The basketball hit the hoop, Tyler Hansbrough felt that the fiery touch had abandoned him and left him.

Conor Achille grabs the rebound, and Rick Barnes yells, "Gimme the ball to Kevin!"

Durant received the ball as he wished, but North Carolina's defense against him was very tight.

Without Damien James who was fighting for space with him on the field, Li Ke once again started an air-cut running position when the team's offense was frustrated.

In the first half, Li Ke had two scoring experiences by relying on air cuts, and Rayshaun Terry, who was defending him, followed closely.

Seeing that Rayshaun Terry couldn't get rid of him, Li Ke thought of the ball that Rayshaun Terry threw away at the beginning of the second half.

He circled the penalty area like a gourd, and then turned back suddenly.

Ray Sean Terry's reaction was a step slower, and a space immediately appeared in front of Li Ke. He stretched out his hands and shouted: "KD! KD!"

Durant, who was looking for an opportunity with the ball, just found Li Ke.

A pass, Li Ke catches the ball and makes a layup!
"Raysean Terry should feel that this ball is very familiar. Yes, this is the goal he scored at the beginning of the first half. Sheldon Lee seems to have copied the same ball!"

On the field, Li Ke, who scored the goal, and Xiao Du, who assisted him, clapped hands.

There was a buzzing noise in my mind:
"C-level air cut has been upgraded to B-level..."

Air cut upgraded?
From C level to B level, Li Ke's eyes narrowed. He felt that he had found the last step to defeat North Carolina's tar heels!

On the defensive end, Tyler Hansbrough still failed to break through Li Ke's defense.

Ty Lawson completed the offense for this round, but his throw was slightly out of the basket.

Augustin, who followed the defense, got the rebound, and the University of Texas ushered in a wave of opportunities to tie the score. This time, Rick Barnes on the sidelines did not clamor for Augustin to give the ball to Xiao Du.

The offense of the University of Texas seems to have returned to the first half. Li Ke's air cut moves became smoother when everyone was performing their duties.

He rushed straight for a few steps, then ran back suddenly, and then made a 45° turn as if he had a flash of inspiration.

Rayshaun Terry, who was following behind him, felt that his opponent's running position suddenly became erratic and sharp. In short, he couldn't keep up.

"It's empty again! This time it's DJ Augustin's pass, and Sheldon Lee's floater hits!"

"This is the fifth time he scored in this game, and all five times were two-pointers. His score suddenly hit double figures!"

"Defense, cut and score, this Sheldon Lee, who came out of nowhere, stood up twice and solved the crisis facing the University of Texas!"

Off the court, Rick Barnes also waved his arms and shouted.

"Beautiful cutting movement!"

Beside him, Russell Spreeman seemed impatient to claim credit for himself: "As I said earlier, Rick, I recruited him. Defense is just the foundation. What's more important is this guy's air cut. You should see it now? This guy is a top-level puzzle!"

(End of this chapter)