no shortcuts in basketball

When your defense is no longer able to limit the opponent with hard work, there is only one choice you can make, to fight with the opponent.

This is also the choice of the Devils.

Actually they are doing pretty well.

The advantage of the Tigers on the defensive end is that they have many insides, but the focus of the Devils' offense is on the outside rather than inside.

Harden can not only create damage inside, but also shoot from the outside. Xu Yong can not only attack the basket, but his outside shooting is also very stable.

The Devils showed enough strength, they bit the score in the starting period.

However, after the two sides entered the rotation, the point difference was opened up a little bit.

The strength of the Tigers' substitutes is obviously stronger than that of the Devils. The most intuitive data is that the Tigers have 13 players, and 8 of them are four-star high school students. This number is second only to Kansas's 10. There are only three people on the Devils side, Harden, Xu Yong and Ayers.

Sandek could only resort to the method of killing the main force in advance, which made them only lag behind by single digits in the first half.

But in the second half, with the physical consumption of the players, the point difference was inevitably widened.

The members of the Devils can deeply feel that the University of Memphis they are facing is a level stronger than UCLA.

With one minute left in the game and the Devils trailing by more than ten points, Sandek finally replaced all the main players.

At this time, they were already dripping with sweat, even Xu Yong was exhausted.

Sandek patted the shoulders of the off-field players one by one.

From being unnamed at the beginning of the season to playing against the dominant University of Memphis to the end, they have achieved the limit of what they have done.

After sitting on the bench, both Harden and Xu Yong looked at the field, but their thoughts were already wandering.

Without beating Memphis, their draft picks won't change much.

In other words, they failed to realize Xu Yong's original plan.

Harden's expression is disappointed, just like what he thought at the beginning, the sooner he enters the NBA, the better for him, but if he only enters the NBA as a role player, he is not reconciled.

In contrast, Xu Yong's expression looked much calmer.

Harden asked him that day, and he told him his plan, but as a reborn person, he naturally wouldn't leave himself a way out.

And his way out, his plan B, is to fight for another year.

This is why he didn't say anything when Yao Ming persuaded him, because what Yao Ming said was also part of the plan.

If he had chosen the [Krypton Gold System] at the beginning, he would undoubtedly choose to run for the election this year. As long as he can enter the NBA, it will be a matter of time before he can play.

But now he is not systematic, [Injury Immunity] just gives him more training time, so if he can't get a good training environment, it's better to stay in NCAA and continue to improve himself.

In his draft report, as a small forward, he lacks offensive means. If he enriches his offensive means next season, it can be predicted that the pick will rise sharply.

And this year is the draft year, next year is not.

Although the 2009 rookies in history included All-Stars such as Griffin, Harden, Curry, and DeRozan, it was after the eyes of the sky were opened. In history, it is a standard draft year.

The draft depends on potential, and a major factor that represents potential is age. Griffin and Harden are both sophomores, and Curry is even a third year. As for DeRozan, he is the same age as Harden and entered a year later. University.

In addition to these people, high-ranking rookies such as Thabeet, Jordan Hill, Terrence Williams, and Taylor Hansbrough are all "leftover" juniors and seniors.

So playing for another year, he is not only expected to hit the lottery, but may even have a chance to enter the top ten.

And staying in the NCAA to enrich his offensive skills can also allow him to better adapt to the NBA.

"beep!"

The final whistle sounded, and the score was fixed at 77 to 63. The players stood up one after another for the final handshake.

Xu Yong temporarily withdrew his thoughts and shook hands with people from the University of Memphis one by one.

When shaking hands with Rose, Rose took the initiative to bump his shoulder.

This move was approved by Ross.

Seeing this scene, although he had already made the decision to play for another year, Xu Yong still felt a little emotional.

If Rose is replaced by anyone else in the current NCAA league, the Devils actually have a chance.

But Rose's talent and personal ability are too strong.

Yes, Rose did not shoot, but he can rely on his breakthrough to win the youngest MVP in history in his third year as a rookie.

This achievement is not weaker than Wade, who won the championship FMVP in the third grade.

Ross.

In an instant, his mind was full of images of Ross changing directions without slowing down.

Compared with others, this trick is really too hardcore, it is like burning your knees to play.

But at this moment, he felt his head was poked by something.

Hardcore play?

[Injury immunity]?

Rose's knee was scrapped after his rookie season, but he won't!

No, not only changing direction without slowing down, he can also learn those styles of play that hurt the body, because he will not be injured.

When other people make dunks, they have to look at the landing. From now on, he will throw people into the air first, and there will be no injuries at all.

When others shoot, they need to be careful to defend their feet. He can completely ignore it. You can stretch your feet as long as you don’t get broken by me!

In an instant, a door to a new world slowly opened towards him.

The satanic seeds in his body are really about to awaken!

After the handshake ceremony, Xu Yong and his teammates went back to the locker room.

After a while, Sandek came to the locker room.

"I'm proud of you, children, you have done your best." It was completely different from his usual stern image, and Sandek's eyes were full of tenderness at this time.

He has been strict with his players and put pressure on them all season, but it's not because he likes that, but because he knows that only in that way can this team with low talents go further. Far.

Now, what this group of players have done has exceeded his expectations, and he has nothing to criticize.

"I prepared an Xbox 360 for each of you in Tempe. After you go back, you can relax for a while, and then think about what to do next. Children, I am proud of coaching you." Sandek laughed said.

He finally looked at Harden and Xu Yong.

Naturally, he is also concerned about the future of the players. Harden and Xu Yong are first-round prospects. They can already choose to leave college and hit the NBA.

Sandek finished and left the locker room.

Xu Yong followed him out.

"coach."

Sandek turned around when he heard the shout, saw that it was Xu Yong, and looked at him suspiciously.

"Coach, I decided to play for another year." Xu Yong said.

Sandek was stunned for a moment, he didn't expect Xu Yong's decision to be so fast.

"Don't make decisions lightly, you need more time to think." Sandek suggested that young people are prone to act impulsively.

"I have thought about it a lot before, I will continue to stay in the team to improve myself, and then help the team achieve a better record." Xu Yong said firmly.

Seeing that look, Sandek remembered that the person in front of him was Xu Yong.

Instead of persuading, he nodded.

It is a good thing for Xu Yong to stay, and for the Devils.

Because Xu Yong has shown some potential for holding the ball, if Harden goes to the draft, then Xu Yong can be topped.

……

After the game against the University of Memphis, the Devils' journey this season has also come to an end.

Like most NBA players, they will also usher in a long offseason.

Most of the members of the devil team followed the team back to school first.

Although they failed to beat the University of Memphis, they made it to the Sweet 16, which is still worth celebrating for Arizona State. In addition to the Xbox360 that Sandek fulfilled his promise, the school will also hold a celebration party for them.

But Xu Yong did not go back together, he chose to stay in Houston.

He made a phone call to Yao Ming, hoping to get help from him.

"Do you want to learn how to pull from McGrady?" Yao Ming was very surprised when he heard Xu Yong's request, because everyone knew how badly McGrady's dry pull hurt his waist.

"Brother Yao, McGrady has a congenital curvature of the spine, believe me, I can do it." Xu Yong said affirmatively.

Yes, he wants to learn from McGrady's dry pull, because in his plan, there is a plan to increase weapons and train mid-range next season.

Now that the door to the new world has been opened, why not learn the more threatening Ganba?

You must know that his height as a swingman is not shorter than McGrady.

And he also knows that another important reason why McGrady is a big threat is that the breakthrough is strong enough, and the breakthrough is also a weapon that he will improve next season after he reaches a certain level of control.

Of course, there is another point. From the day he went to Yao Ming's house, he could feel that the relationship between Yao Ming and McGrady may not be as good as the media advertised, but it is definitely not as bad as some media people said. Generally speaking, it is a relationship. Good teammate, so this is not an embarrassment for Yao Ming.

"Okay, leave it to me." Yao Ming finally agreed, because he understood Xu Yong's character, and if he didn't help, Xu Yong would find other channels.

He doesn't need to shirk this kind of thing that can be done in favor of favors, not to mention that the Olympic Games will be played soon, and he also wants Xu Yong to appear on that stage.