score maniac

Chapter 25: A Player with Character

“Two points good, one free throw!!!” “…Whoa!!!” When Gu Yu completed this spectacular “and-one” play, the entire arena—believe it or not—began cheering for this bottom-of-the-barrel team. “Amazing, just amazing!!” “This kid is something else. Wesley Johnson dove in to defend him—his hand was practically swollen from the contact—and he still managed to score! That, that, that… his touch is just insane!!” “Hahaha, look at him! Check out that expression—holy crap, he’s so cocky, I love it! Hahaha!!” Amid the fans’ cheers, the “problem child” Cousins instantly beamed with joy, laughing heartily as he rushed over and pulled Gu Yu to his feet. On the sidelines, Jeter—who had already racked up three assists for Gu Yu’s team—was completely hyped up. He ran a few steps to the sideline and waved repeatedly at the crowd; every time he raised his hands, the cheers grew even louder. That was awesome…!! In the media section, Yu Chenyi’s eyes were sparkling; she clenched her little fist and swung it vigorously in the air, utterly thrilled. Who would’ve thought Gu Yu could hit shot after shot over Wesley Johnson? He’s on track to make a name for himself in a single game! “…Swish!” With his shooting touch now “warmed up,” Gu Yu stepped to the free-throw line, released the ball with precision, and converted the three-point play. As his personal score reached 9 points, the Timberwolves called a timeout. “Wesley Johnson, get off the court!” Timberwolves head coach Lambis was so furious he was stomping his feet. Before Johnson could even reach the sideline, he started yelling at him right in front of all the fans, forcing the team’s rising star to sit on the bench. “Hmph~!” On the court, Gu Yu naturally saw the whole scene. He snorted coldly while sticking his tongue out at the dejected Johnson. “Competing with me for points? Dream on!” “…Hahahahaha, what a character—what a character!” Hearing Gu Yu’s taunt, the fans all burst out laughing. These days on NBA courts, almost every player is polite and well-mannered; no matter how intense the competition gets, they never hurl a single taunt at their opponents. This is certainly related to the “league image” initiatives the NBA has been actively promoting in recent years, but on the other hand, it’s an undeniable fact that the new generation of players simply doesn’t have as much spunk as the older generation of stars. In this day and age, players like those of the older generation—who represented an entire city, refused to join “superteams” under any circumstances, and were single-mindedly determined to fight to the bitter end—are now extremely rare. Replacing them are the new generation of stars, who are adept at navigating all sides of the game. With new technology, social media, and the evolving media landscape, every word and action of a star player is instantly magnified. How many players, out of concern for their public image or their commercial endorsements, keep a commercial smile on their faces even while inwardly cursing their opponents’ ancestors to the nth generation? Looking back, there was Chamberlain’s godlike presence, Rodman’s maverick spirit, Barkley’s sharp-tongued commentary, Iverson’s defiant attitude, Kobe’s “I’ll go even if a thousand stand against me” resolve, and Mc Grady’s poetic performances on the court… That era of diverse talent and explosive personal charisma is gone forever. If, for the older generation of players, basketball was life itself, victory and defeat were a matter of dignity, and once they stepped onto the court, they were prepared to battle their opponents to the bitter end, Modern players, on the other hand, view basketball more as a profession; with every decision, every word, and every media interview, they strive for perfection, unwilling to give anyone ammunition for criticism. Fans have gradually grown accustomed to today’s more subdued NBA. The games remain thrilling, classic matchups continue to abound, and players are becoming increasingly formidable. But the on-court dominance and comebacks, the constant trash talk, and that raw, impulsive energy—where a single disagreement could lead to an immediate brawl—have gradually faded from public view. Now, another character player has emerged. Although his skills are terrible—and although anyone with eyes can see that, given his level of play, it’s already a feat just to stay in the pros—seeing someone so straightforward and unafraid to speak his mind has once again wildly stirred up that deep-seated passion buried in the very depths of people’s hearts. “Greasy Hair! Go—!!! Two minutes left in the first quarter—one more point and you’ll have doubled Wesley Johnson’s score!!” When the timeout ended and Gu Yu returned to the court, a fan shouted out loud—eager for the drama to escalate, hoping Gu Yu would pull off another explosive move. “This is a slicked-back hairstyle, dammit!!!” Gu Yu’s response… well… you know… The timeout ended, and the game resumed! Replacing Wesley Johnson, the Timberwolves sent in shooting guard Wayne Ellington. This second-year player, known for his precise shooting, had a three-point shot that was downright terrifying. On defense, he held his own against off-ball shooters; his footwork, height, and strength were all on par with Gu Yu’s, and he even had a significant edge in explosiveness. “Lambis…” Seeing this substitution, Westphal’s expression darkened as he turned to look thoughtfully at the Timberwolves’ head coach on the opposite bench. Although Wesley Johnson had infuriated him, Lambis hadn’t lost his composure; the player he’d brought in was the perfect counter to Gu Yu on both ends of the court. The intent behind this substitution was clear: to use Ellington’s shooting and movement to tie up Gu Yu and wear down his defensive stamina. Then, on offense, they’d stick to him like glue, preventing him from finding his undeniably lethal sweet spot, and find a way to shut him down completely. That’s really impressive…! On the sidelines, knowledgeable fans and reporters all nodded in agreement. Lambis’s substitution was spot-on. Gu Yu had been lucky earlier, sinking shot after shot, but a pure shooter can rarely decide a game on his own. Once the defense becomes targeted, it’s easy to shut him down completely. Gu Yu… “How are you going to respond…?” Westphal actually felt a tinge of excitement welling up inside him, and the look in his eyes as he watched Gu Yu grew even more intense. “Run, run!” The game continued. The Timberwolves failed to convert on a play, and Cousins grabbed the rebound. After Jeter pushed the ball up the court, he began calling out instructions while roaming the court looking for an open teammate. Cousins was a tough player to defend against. The Timberwolves had made up their minds: as soon as Cousins got the ball, they’d double-team him. Given Cousins’ current skill level, it was still very difficult for him to break out of that. And while it’s true that “a double-team always leaves an open man,” the Kings’ perimeter players lacked overall athleticism; aside from shooting, they posed little threat on the drive. As a result, the mid-range area of the court became a vacuum—no matter how many passing options Jeter had at his disposal, he struggled to make an impact. This should have been a great opportunity for Gu Yu to shine, but… “Damn it, are you trying to drive me crazy??” Gu Yu ran past Jeter, cursing under his breath, while Ellington followed him step for step, never letting up, his footwork perfectly in sync with every one of Gu Yu’s moves. This was the “box-one,” the famous one-man isolation defense tactic. No matter how the other players moved, Ellington was dead set on locking down Gu Yu. The tactic worked wonders, and the Kings’ subsequent offensive possessions all came to nothing. With Gu Yu pinned down, the rest of the team had no choice but to take the ball and go one-on-one. In terms of individual ability, the Kings still lagged behind the Timberwolves; not only did they fail to score, but they also gave up a series of fast breaks, leaving them in a sorry state. “Only 20 seconds left!” With 20 seconds left in the first quarter, the Kings were trailing by more than 10 points again. As Jeter drove up the court with the ball, beads of sweat had already begun to form on his forehead. What to do?? Should I have De Marcus take it one-on-one? Or should I set up another play?? What on earth should I do… “Dive…!” Just as Jeter was at a loss, a voice rang out in his ear. Huh…? Jett turned around—who else but Gu Yu would call him a “loser”? But the real question was… “The shooting guard setting a pick for the point guard?!!” Amid the crowd’s gasps, Gu Yu actually stepped forward and set a screen for Jett. “Come on, trust me!” Seeing that Jett was a bit hesitant, Gu Yu—in a rare show of seriousness—said, “You go ahead first. I’ve got a way to score…!”