The best teammates in the NBA

Chapter 26 The Taste of a Champion

"North Carolina wasted the opportunity to open the score. In the final stage of the first half, they failed to defend against UCLA's offense. Maybe they should reduce the attack on Kayce."

Kenny Smith is still feeling sorry for North Carolina.

"No, I think North Carolina stuck to their defense and we could see Kayce was passing the ball in the last few minutes, but the UCLA guys took the pressure and got the ball in."

Reggie Miller expressed his views and once again praised the UCLA players.

"Are you still optimistic that UCLA will win this game? Now they are behind." Kenny - Smith then asked.

"Of course, you know, when the game enters a stalemate, the role of the star will be reflected, and Kayce has this ability!" Reggie Miller blew again.

In the UCLA locker room, everyone was still in a stable mood. After all, Li Ze had a relaxed expression on his face, which also dissipated a lot of their tension.

"We did a good job in the first half. We didn't let the opponent stretch the score. In the second half, we have to go all out. Their outside shooting percentage will drop. They can't beat us!"

The old man growled and yelled this passage, and chicken soup was needed at this time, and tactics were useless.

"I don't want to rotate too much in the second half. The inside players should protect their fouls first, and they can't let them go to the free throw line too early. Kayce will shoot when he has a chance, and believe in his shots!"

"No problem, we will win the game. They didn't open the score in the first half. They had no chance at all. We will defeat North Carolina!"

Li Ze's tone was very firm. What he wanted at this time was one breath. As long as everyone's thinking is unified, they can win the game.

In the locker room of North Carolina, the coaching staff is arranging tactics. There are only 20 minutes left before the championship, and no one will relax at this time.

"Our defensive rotation should be fast, and we should pay attention to filling up after the pinch. Don't give UCLA too many open shots. Everyone should respond when defending!"

Danny Green was exhausted in the first half. He was the first barrier to defend Li Ze. After assisting the defense inside, the defense on the outside also required him to run constantly to make up for the position.

But he didn't say that he didn't need help in defense at this time. He knew that he would be overwhelmed by Li Ze when defending alone. It's better to be tired than to be easily scored by Li Ze.

"Ellington, pay attention to the opportunity after the pick-and-roll, give the ball to the inside first, and let the ball move!"

Ellington immediately signaled that he understood that he felt that he was hot in this game, but he still wanted to get an MOP.

Soon, the second half of the game officially began, and the audience in the Lucas Oil Stadium began to cheer for their home team again.

Collison was replaced and rested for most of the first half. At this time, he felt that he was in good condition, and he should be fine in the final period.

It was still a classic Spanish pick-and-roll. Holiday bounced out to catch the ball. Li Ze passed the ball to Holiday through the inside player's off-ball cover. At this time, the defender facing Ellington became Ellington.

A cross step directly shakes Ellington away, takes a step back, and shoots directly from outside the three-point line.

"Shua" scored a 3-pointer, and Li Ze immediately called his teammates back to defend.

"A very beautiful goal. Kayce's goal was just a simple change of rhythm and he threw away the defender. Maybe he will explode in the second half!" Reggie Miller sang praises for Li Ze.

On the defensive end in the second half, Li Ze was responsible for marking Ellington, and Danny Green handed it over to Holiday.

Ellington wanted to find opportunities with off-ball screens, but Li Ze's defensive end was tightly entangled, and he never let him catch the ball comfortably.

The combination of [off-the-ball running killer] + [marking master] badge greatly increases Li Zefang's pressure without the ball.

With 12 seconds left in the final attack time, Lawson handed Ellington a hand. Facing Li Ze's defense, he had a good luck, but Li Ze saw the opportunity and directly intercepted the ball.

"It's unbelievable. Kayce directly stole Ellington with the ball. It was a good opportunity. He faced the defender and scored the ball. There was even a foul and a chance to score 3 points!"

Reggie Miller almost shouted, this ball is very good on both ends of the ball.

Li Ze stood on the free throw line, adjusted his breath, made the free throw steadily, and retreated to defend, while shouting at North Carolina: "You can't guard me, it's too easy!"

After scoring an extra penalty, UCLA successfully tied the score, and the North Carolina coaching staff immediately signaled to their players not to panic.

Lawson was exhausted in the first half, and now he can't suppress Collison. After all, they are about the same height. Facing Collison's oppressive defense, he also felt a little difficult.

After the pick-and-roll again, it was given to Hansbrough. After receiving the ball, he hit two small hooks followed by a turn. As a result, as soon as the ball was released, Li Ze sneaked over from the side and covered his head and face with a big cap.

Go to your basketball dreams!

In the first half, UCLA had been single-handedly defending. In the second half, it naturally changed its defensive strategy. Collison controlled the ball and passed it directly to the fast-moving Holiday.

Holiday held the ball and directly accelerated to the basket. Relying on Ellington, who was returning to the defense, he steadily advanced the ball, and UCLA overtook the score!
"Ah!!" Holiday beat his chest excitedly and roared.

The UCLA fans in the stadium began to cheer and shout wildly, and their team finally took the lead.

"Defense! Defense! Defense!"

The emotions of the fans were completely high, and they began to cheer for UCLA.

In North Carolina's offensive round, Ellington was on the pick-and-roll at the top of the arc, and Li Ze squeezed through the screen directly, and at the same time signaled his teammates to help defend, preventing Hansbrough from directly going down to attack the basket.

At this time, Ellington suddenly made a step-back mid-range shot. Li Ze was not shaken off his center of gravity, and successfully interfered with the opponent's shot with his excellent wingspan.

"哐" hit the iron, but Hansbrough took off the rebound in the crowd and threw it directly to Lawson on the outside.

"Shua" 3-pointer hit the net, and Lawson was relentless.

"It's okay, be patient, protect the rebound!" Li Ze signaled his teammates to stay focused, there is still a lot of time.

In the next 8 minutes, the two sides took the lead alternately and refused to give in to each other. North Carolina withstood UCLA's counterattack, and the two sides tied at 46. The coach requested a timeout.

"Pay attention to rebounds, we have to get stuck in advance, especially the control of long rebounds. Once the rebound is received and the opportunity to counterattack is seized, North Carolina is no longer able to run, and we will win."

It's not just that North Carolina can't run anymore. On UCLA's side, only Li Ze and Holiday are in good physical condition, and the rest are a little bit overwhelmed.

"We don't play pick and roll, Kayce, whether it's shooting or driving, we need you to send the ball to the basket, we need to speed up the offensive rhythm and wear down the opponent!"

Li Ze indicated that he understands that this coach is playing an old routine again, betting that the opponent's shooting percentage is not as good as his own, trying to get a wave of lead, and then start foul tactics at worst. At the last moment, it is not so easy to score free throws.

Back from the timeout, Holiday held the ball for halftime, and UCLA began to pass the hand around the figure of 8. After receiving the ball, Li Ze faced Danny Green's defense, lowered his center of gravity, and directly accelerated the breakthrough with the ball in his left hand.

After taking two steps, he stopped and started immediately, and made a jump shot.

"Shua" scored 2 points steadily, and the [Hot Zone Hunter] near the free throw line guaranteed Li Ze's shooting rate.

"Danny Green's defense has tried his best, but Kayce's shot point is too high, and he still hits this shot." Kenny Smith has some sympathy for Danny Green, which is really difficult to defend
North Carolina's offense was passed to Hansbrough after continuous conduction. After the low post, Holiday suddenly stepped forward to interfere, and the ball hit the iron.

Both sides scrambled for rebounds, and Ellington finally knocked out the bottom line, and UCLA played in the backcourt.

After holding the ball, Collison quickly crossed the half court, handed the ball directly to Li Ze, and faced Danny Green's defense again. After continuous dribbles under the crotch, he made a sharp change in front of his body and dodged the defense.

North Carolina's supplementary defense players directly contracted the defense, and Li Ze jumped up and passed the ball to Collison in the bottom corner, who caught the ball and shot directly.

"Shua" scored a 3-pointer, and Collison excitedly celebrated with Li Ze having a big chest.

This kind of pass can only be passed by tall players, and if a short player is covered, it is basically a mistake.

"Excellent passing vision, Kayce used his pass to break up the North Carolina double team!" Reggie Miller immediately blew.

North Carolina's offense became impatient. After continuous pick-and-roll screens failed to present a good opportunity, the ball returned to Ellington's hands. Facing Li Ze's continuous changes in front of his body, he couldn't get rid of the defense.

The time to attack was approaching, but he had no choice but to take a step back and make a mid-range shot, which was interfered by Li Ze again.

"哐" hit the iron, the long rebound was controlled by Holiday, slowly dribbled halfway, and still handed the ball to Li Ze.

Faced with Danny Green's continuous crotch dribbles, Lawson quickly stepped forward to double-team, Li Ze directly passed to Collison on the side, and then pretended to make a hand-off, and rushed directly to the basket.

Collison got it right, and with a well-timed pass to the ground, Li Ze took off directly after receiving the ball, facing Hansbrough in the air, and after dodging the block with his right hand, he dunked directly with one arm.

"哐" the ball was smashed into the basket.

"Wow, you were almost able to guard me!" Li Ze slowly returned to defense while spouting trash.

"Ah!!" The UCLA fans went crazy. This dunk completely ignited their enthusiasm, and they really wanted to win this game.

With less than 3 minutes left in the game, UCLA led by 8 points. Both fouls had already reached the state of additional penalties, and North Carolina called a timeout.

"North Carolina is already having a hard time chasing points. Their top scorer, Ellington, missed all 6 outside shots under Kayce's marking. Danny Green seems to have reached his physical limit. Lawson should stand up at this time! "

Kenny Smith is still expecting a response from North Carolina.

North Carolina's successful sideline ball tactic, Lawson went straight to the basket after the screen, but under the interference of the inside players, the ball went out of the basket, Li Ze protected the rebound and dribbled the ball directly across the half.

Li Ze took control of the ball and began to press time. At the moment when the pinch came up, he passed it directly to Collison. The latter didn't stop the ball and continued to pass it to Holiday.

Catch the ball and open the defense, directly break through and throw, and score 2 points again, Holiday shouted frantically!

With 1 minute left in the game, after North Carolina passed halftime, Ellington made a direct three-pointer with a pick-and-roll.

"哐" is still hitting the iron, and the long rebound is controlled by Collison.

And following the missed three-pointer, North Carolina reluctantly started foul tactics, and just like that, the game time slowly ran out.

"Wow! Wow!" UCLA fans set off a sea of ​​white, this is their moment of celebration.

"The game is over, 66 to 58, UCLA defeated the University of North Carolina, the championship belongs to UCLA!" Reggie Miller shouted excitedly.

The players on the bench also rushed into the field, Li Ze was surrounded by his teammates, and everyone screamed excitedly!
Celebrating wildly with everyone, Li Ze felt extremely satisfied at this moment.

"The perfect college curtain call, the championship feels really good, hehe!"

(End of this chapter)