Chapter 41: NCAA Finals (2)
After the coaches of both sides laid out the tactics for this game, the players from Duke University surrounded the city, Zhang Zifeng stood in the middle, stretched out his arms, and the other players put their hands on it.
Zhang Zifeng shouted loudly, "Throughout the past season, we have experienced all kinds of hardships together, we have never flinched, and through our hard work, we have come to this day." We want to win the race, but they're not going to give us the title, so let's go and grab it. Let's take the championship back! 1、2、3……”
All the Duke Blues players roared in unison.
"Take it!"
"Take it!"
"Take it!"
……
The Blue Devils fans also roared in unison in response to the players' words, "Take it!"
For a while, "Take it!" The shouts rose higher and higher, and the entire stadium trembled slightly in the waves.
As the game is about to start, the commentators on the scene also got the starting lineups of both sides.
Brin said as he looked at the roster, "There are no changes to the University of Wisconsin's starters today. Still guards: Josh Gassel (junior), shooting guard: Bronson Kenig (senior), forward: Nigel Hayes (sophomore), forward: Sam Decker (junior), center: Frank Kaminsky (senior). ”
"Duke University has made a change, and they've promoted Vince Law to the starting lineup. The starting lineup is: Cook (sophomore), Zhang Zifeng (sophomore), Winslow (freshman), Vince Law (sophomore), Jaliel Okafor (freshman). ”
Van Gundy said: "It can be seen that Coach K is very jealous of Sam Decker at the University of Wisconsin. Sam Decker isn't the traditional rebounding power forward, he's physical, well-rounded, able to score inside and outside, has a quick first step, and is good at breaking. It's hard to stop Jefferson with his footsteps, so it's better to let the fast-moving Vince Law mark him! ”
Brin nodded and said, "Jeff, what do you think Duke or the University of Wisconsin will have to do well in order to win?" ”
Van Gundy Jr. replied without hesitation, "The whole league knows that if you want to defeat Duke University, you must limit their core Zhang Zifeng!" On the other hand, Duke University, if you want to win, when Zhang Zifeng is guarded by the opponent, a player must stand up to help him share the burden. ”
Jackson also explained, "In addition to Zhang Zifeng, another point is the duel between the two rising stars Kaminsky and Okafor. Both of them have strong offensive ability, and the confrontation between them will also affect the trend of the game! ”
With more than 70,000 spectators cheering, the competition officially began.
The referee's whistle blows, and the basketball is thrown high into the air.
Affected by the atmosphere of the finals, Okafor was too nervous, his muscles stiffened, and he was a second slower when jumping the ball.
Kaminsky scrambled to the backcourt and Gasser jumped to catch the ball.
Duke University players saw this and immediately retreated to the halfcourt, waiting for the opponent to attack.
Dribbling the ball up front, Gassel wanted to hoist the ball to Kaminski.
Zhang Zifeng suddenly rushed out, cut off the ball, did not stop, and rushed to the front court with a frenzy.
"Don't think about me!" Kenig pressed up and reached out to steal the ball that Zhang Zifeng was dribbling.
With a crotch dribble, Zhang Zifeng switched the ball to his left hand, accelerated, and rushed past Kenig's left.
Rushing to the free throw line, seeing that Kaminsky had returned to the penalty area, Zhang Zifeng jumped up directly and threw a shot to help Duke University take the lead.
0:2
When returning to the defense, Zhang Zifeng shouted to Kenig, "Come on, you almost broke my ball!" ”
Of course, Zhang Zifeng didn't encourage Kenig anymore, he just wanted to lure Kenig to continue to defend himself.
For the University of Wisconsin's offense, Gassell quickly advanced to the front court and immediately put the ball in the hands of power forward Decker.
Decker stretched out his hand and Kaminski, the center, immediately ran to the high post.
Decker used the cover to shake off Vincelaw, who was marking him, and cut inside, and Okafor was preparing to deal with Decker.
Instead of opting for a layup, Decker passed the ball back to Kaminski.
The basketball passed to Kaminski, who was pulled to the high post to block and disassemble, and after Kaminsky received the ball, he jumped up directly outside the three-point line and threw the ball.
Frank Kaminski's agility and coordination are excellent among the big guys, with a soft shot and excellent shooting with or without the ball. He's also hard to predict in the pick-and-roll offense, and he can either go down or pull out to shoot threes.
The crisp sound of wiping the net tells everyone why one of the templates for the NBA mentioned in the scout's report to him is Kevin Love, both of whom have a three-point shot.
"Keep an eye on him, don't let him shoot. Didn't you read the report before the game? Old K yelled angrily at Vince Law.
Before the game, Lao K deliberately explained to his players, Kaminsky's three-point shooting rate is good, which is one of his main offensive methods.
Once Kaminski is involved in a pick-and-roll with his teammates, the one who switches must follow.
He was slow to react just now, and Vince Law knew that this loss of position was indeed his responsibility. In the face of Lao K's anger, he lowered his head and picked up the ball in some frustration and prepared to serve.
Compared with the University of Wisconsin, which is mostly veterans and more proficient, several Duke players are too nervous under the suffocating atmosphere of the finals, and they have not yet returned to normal.
Zhang Zifeng took the serve and said, "It's just a game, it's not a big deal. Relax, relax, relax, everyone!"
The other team members nodded, "I understand!" ”
Zhang Zifeng broke through Kenig into the penalty area with a few feints in the front court, and in the face of Kaminski, Zhang Zifeng split the ball and passed it to Okafor.
Basically, it can be said that Okafor, who is completely empty, shoots under the basket and hits the iron.
FUCK YOU!
Is this called understanding? Understand,! Zhang Zifeng couldn't help but want to scold Okafor, a damn bastard, who used to be angry and wanted to compete with me for the team boss. Every time it comes to a critical moment, it fucking drops the chain.
Zhang Zifeng didn't have time to complain, the University of Wisconsin had already launched a counterattack.
Zhang Zifeng desperately ran back and stopped Gassel outside the three-point line.
The University of Wisconsin's fast offensive did not succeed, they did not rush, but waited for Kaminsky to run over and fight a positional battle.
Gassel broke through to the box with the help of screens, and in the face of Vinslaw's defence, he jumped up and crossed to Kaminsky in the bottom corner.
Kaminsky deceived Okafor with a feint of shooting, broke through to the restricted area, and made a layup that caused Zhang Zifeng's foul.
Kaminski makes a free throw, 6-2.
"Duke University is not playing well during this time, they are too nervous!" Brin said.
Jeff Van Gundy agreed, "Yes, young players like Okafor and Winslow are playing in the Finals for the first time, and they feel a lot of pressure. From the game just now, it can be seen that their bodies are a little stiff, and they will not be able to shoot under the basket. They must adjust as soon as possible, and Zhang Zifeng must stand up and use practical actions to reassure his teammates! ”