King of shooting guards

Chapter 220

On the seventh day after the national youth team arrived in China, the World Youth Championship officially opened.At nine o'clock in the morning local time, the Chinese National Youth Team ushered in their first match - against the host US team.

There is a sixteen-hour time difference between BJ and New York. At this time, it is late at night in China on the other side of the earth, and it is one o'clock in the morning the next day.Since the upcoming day will be a weekend, and perhaps they still have expectations for the ambitious National Youth Team, there are still many Chinese fans waiting in front of the TV late at night.

At this moment, the players of the University of California, Los Angeles, without exception, are waiting in front of the TV, because their captain Li Changgeng will represent the US team in this game.

Selena, who always went to bed before eleven o'clock, quietly turned on the small TV on the desk in her bedroom at this moment.I haven't seen him for more than a month, how is he doing now?
In Li Changgeng's home, Chen Ang and Yu Mengjiao leaned shoulder to shoulder, holding hands and anxiously waiting for their nephew to appear on the TV.

In a courtyard house in BJ, Zhao Yu was sitting in front of the TV holding a teacup.

……

Among the crowd waiting in front of the TV, how many people think that the Chinese team may win the game?Insignificant!Almost everyone has a conclusion on the outcome of the game, and the fans are concerned about how the US team will perform in this game.

For this national youth team, most people have only one request for them-don't humiliate Chinese basketball, even if they lose, lose better.

On the TV screen, the American team entered the field.

World Youth Championship: China VS USA.

The Chinese National Youth Team enters the field.

Li Changgeng stood in the center of the stadium looking up at the stadium, and exclaimed, "This stadium is really big!"

"Idiot!" Sima Shenji lowered his head and scolded, "Idiot, it's live TV now, how many viewers are watching in front of the TV. Don't embarrass us, okay?"

"Is it really big?" Li Changgeng asked aggrievedly.

Since arriving at us, it took two days to adjust the time difference, and then closed training and adjustments. It is the first time for the national youth team to leave their residence in Los Angeles to participate in the competition today.

The game was held at the Los Angeles Municipal Coliseum.Although it is not the largest arena in Los Angeles, such a stadium and such a stage are indeed a bit bigger.The entire arena is centered on the basketball court in the middle and radiates from all sides.The auditorium on the upper, middle and lower floors is enough to accommodate [-] spectators.Compared with domestic arenas that can only accommodate a few thousand spectators, this stadium is really too big.

During the World Youth Championship, the basketball leagues at all levels in the United States have not yet started a new season.Watching the World Youth Championship has also become the only choice for Americans who like basketball.And since this game was played by the host team, the United States, the attendance rate was surprisingly high.The stadium, which can accommodate [-] spectators, is already full at this moment.The auditorium of the American basketball stadium is always very close to the court, and the audience is two meters away from the court.With the crowd of spectators, tens of thousands of eyes focused on him, and the noisy sound in the stadium, anyone will be nervous for the first time on such a field.

Li Changgeng is very nervous right now, with an uneasy expression and stiff movements.

Even Sima Shenji and Li Zheng, who have already played in the domestic league for two years, are not so relaxed and calm when they set foot on such a stadium for the first time!
Except for them, the other members of the National Youth Team had experience in the World Youth Championship once, so naturally they were not as nervous as they were.

Suddenly there was a burst of warm cheers in the arena, and most of the audience in the auditorium stood up and applauded—the US team entered the arena.

A group of tall men in the uniforms of the US National Youth Team appeared on the court.Wearing a headset, chewing gum, and waving his hands above his head to greet the audience in all directions-this is the US National Youth Team!
Li Changgeng's heart was full of excitement at the moment, he had seen their senior Chinese dream team playing in the World Championships and Olympic Games many times on TV, the players in front of him were so similar to them.By the way, they are also the US team. Although not all of them are world-class superstars like their predecessors, but at the level of the World Youth Championship, they are the dream team.

Play against the dream team!Li Changgeng couldn't tell whether it was his childhood dream or his previous life's wish.However, the tension just now was replaced by excitement and excitement in an instant.What an exciting thing to challenge the US team and the Chinese basketball team!

Sima Shenji next to him looked at Li Changgeng's sudden excitement, and sighed helplessly. It was not the first time he had encountered this kind of situation. Facing a strong opponent, this kid never knew to be afraid, and even became more excited.What a strange guy, a person who usually looks very gentle, seems to be a different person when he meets basketball on the court.But for today's game, hehe, I'm afraid this guy won't be able to do what he wants.

Before the game, the two teams warmed up.

Just as Sima Shenji thought, on the court, Li Changgeng's body, which was still stiff when he touched the basketball, suddenly returned to his usual flexibility, even worse.Outside the three-point line, "Shua, Shua, Shua..." fired shots from a long distance again and again, and the basketball fell steadily into the basket!

A hundred steps to wear Yang example is not in vain!

"Oh..." bursts of warm cheers suddenly erupted in the arena, and the Chinese National Youth Team on this side of the stadium stopped one by one. Looking back, it turned out to be the members of the Chinese National Youth Team on the other side of the stadium. They are performing their slam dunk stunts one by one.

"Boom boom boom..." The basket groaned, and the players of the US team smashed the ball into the basket with various acrobatic moves, heavy dunks with both hands, windmills with one arm, and 360-degree turnaround dunks... The applause of the audience Every time he completes a dunk, the player who dunks turns around with his hands raised high to face the surrounding audience. His expression is like the complacency of stars participating in the NBA dunk contest when they complete their moves.

"What the hell are these guys doing!" Li Changgeng asked Sima Shenji and Song Liuming on the side of the stadium, "Do they know what a warm-up is?"

"Idiot!" Sima Shenji said sullenly, "They didn't take us seriously at all."

"Is that so?"

The basketball in Song Liuming's hand hit the ground heavily and bounced, and said in a low voice, "That's not it!"

Li Zheng grabbed Song Liuming and threw the basketball that was bouncing on the ground. His face was as calm as ever, and he said indifferently: "In their view, this is a game where there is no suspense. No matter how much energy they waste at the moment, it will not affect They won the game!"

He spoke in a calm tone, but in the ears of Li Changgeng, Sima Shenji, and Song Liuming, the anger in their hearts was aroused even more. "Damn it!" The three clenched their fists tightly.

Only the four of them participated in the World Series for the first time in the national youth team. Although it is conceivable that there is a gap in strength between them and the opponents in front of them, they are completely irritated by the arrogance of their opponents at this moment.A look of determination flashed across their faces at the same time, and the initial embarrassment had completely disappeared at this moment.

Newborn calves are not afraid of tigers. Li Changgeng was the most disapproving of these show-loving guys in front of him. He greeted Li Zheng who was holding the ball: "Pass the ball!"

"Crack!" Li Zheng shook his wrist, and the basketball was accurately thrust into his hands.

The dribble started, but Li Changgeng went in the direction of the American team. The quick-sighted Sima grabbed him and scolded, "What are you going to do?"

"Go over and say hello to them!"

"Idiot!" Sima Shenji thumped him on the head, "Are you trying to cause trouble? This is broadcast on domestic TV!"

Li Changgeng kicked his foot hard, and stared hard at the other side of the court.

The slight commotion on the side of the China Youth Team has attracted the attention of many spectators, and many spectators have already focused their strange eyes here.

"Crack!" The basketball passed by, turned around, accelerated, and flew up from the free throw line, "Boom!" The basketball was dunked heavily into the basket, and a small figure was dangling on the basket.

The audience in the arena who were watching this side froze for a moment, and then there was a burst of warm cheers.

Although the Chinese have seen many times of jumping and dunking from the free throw line, it is the first time in the memory of the audience present that Li Changgeng has done so smoothly and briskly.

Putting down his hand, Li Changgeng dropped gently.Turning around, looking at the opposite side, "You are not the only ones who can dunk, a bunch of idiots!" The words were spoken in English, with a low voice, but they were still captured by Geng Xiangzhi at the side of the court.Geng Xiangzhi was stunned for a moment and then burst out laughing.

On the U.S. team, only point guard Chris Hayes, who is 180 cm tall, has a similar figure to Li Changgeng. The players of the U.S. team immediately focused on them, shrugged, and spread their hands. .In fact, he couldn't even slam dunk.

The cameras in the stadium faithfully recorded everything that had just happened in the stadium, and transmitted it back to the other side of the earth in an instant through radio waves.The eyes of the fans waiting in front of the TV brightened: He is really a good Chang Geng, maybe Geng Xiangzhi really has a reason to recruit him into the National Youth Team.

Seeing Li Changgeng's figure on the TV, Selina smiled faintly on Yurong's face in the dark.

At this time, Mozart, Hayes, Harris, Leonard, Hong Lingyu, Amu and others who participated in the U17 training camp were also in front of the TV.

They all look forward to seeing Li Changgeng's equally wonderful performance in the next official competition.

As everyone knows, the slam dunk just now was Li Changgeng's only performance in this game.

The warm-up is over and the game is about to start.

Geng Xiangzhi announced the list of players on the field.

"Playing players are center point Song Liuming, second center Li Zhenhua, small forward Sima Shenji, point guard Li Zheng, and shooting guard Yu Chenglong."

There is no Li Changgeng in the lineup.

The team members couldn't help being a little stunned. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell from the training these days that Li Changgeng was the main force doing his part.coach what does this mean?
The person involved, Li Changgeng, was not particularly unusual. It is only natural that all the coaches have the final say on the field.And he has never regarded himself as a main player.

American Lineup: Point Guard: Chris Hayes, Shooting Guard Francesco Garcia, Small Forward Ken Young Wallace, Inside Amre Smith, Al Howard.

The game is about to start.

On the side of the court, out of the range of the cameras, Geng Xiangzhi asked Li Changgeng to sit down next to him.

On the court, players from both sides stand in position and prepare to start.Only then did Li Changgeng realize that his teammates, who usually looked tall and burly, stood together with their opponents, but their stature was actually a bit thin.

"Flute!" The referee whistled, and the ball jumped!

The players who jumped the ball on both sides were Song Liuming and Al Howard.

The two hit the basketball at the same time, the basketball was squeezed out, and Sima Shenji of the China Youth Team grabbed the ball.

In the offense of the China Youth team, the US team returned to the defense very quickly and had no chance to break fast.Li Zheng calmly controlled the ball, the Chinese youth team moved quickly to respond, the basketball was quickly passed from Li Zheng's hands and then passed the ball quickly, the players actively screened each other, and the Chinese youth team actively looked for opportunities to attack .

The U.S. team adopts a man-to-man defense, constantly launching an oppressive defense against the middle-aged and young players who hold the ball, and strives to push the ball-handling players to the sideline or near the bottom line.

The competition was fierce, and the middle and young players on the field, Li Changgeng who was watching the game off the field, and other substitute players soon saw any difference between the opponents in front of them and the opponents they had encountered in the past.The opponent's defense is very urgent, they meet each other to help defend, and the replacement is very fast.Li Zheng, who is best at breakthroughs in the China Youth Team, failed to achieve any breakthroughs several times because of the players who quickly assisted in the defense.

Although the opponent's defense is tight, the Chinese youth team is not incompetent. Basketball is not football, and no matter how good the defense is, it cannot completely contain the opponent's attack.Passing the ball, splitting... The offensive routines that the China Youth Team has practiced many times are now in full play.The basketball was passed to Sima Shenji, and he raised his hand to shoot, "Shua!" It hit the net.Sima Shenji's hands were very hot today, and he missed several shots.

Offensive and defensive translocation, it is the turn of the US team to attack.Li Changgeng on the sidelines stared closely at the game on the field.

The zone defense adopted by the youth team.When the U.S. team was attacking, the five players kept moving quickly, actively and quickly cutting in, guiding the ball, rolling off picks, and covering screens to get shots again and again.The five players on the U.S. team seemed to be excellent shooters, "swish, swish..." time after time, they sent basketballs into the basket of the Chinese youth team.

Under the leadership of Song Liuming, Sima Shenji and Li Zheng, the China Youth Team fought bravely for the first place. At the end of the first quarter, the two sides were evenly tied at 23:25.During the period, Geng Xiangzhi made several substitutions and suspended challenge tactics, all of which had immediate results.The Chinese audience in the arena and the Chinese fans waiting in front of the TV also had a preliminary experience of the profound art of the head coach Geng Xiangzhi on the spot.

However, what puzzled many people was that Li Changgeng did not play in the entire first quarter.

The second quarter begins.

After receiving instructions from Geng Xiangzhi, the China Youth Team took the lead in speeding up the pace of the game. Li Zheng made a quick breakthrough, and Sima Shenji frequently played for his teammates. Song Liuming was the strongest member of the China Youth Team. He was 130 meters tall and [-] meters tall. The weight in kilograms is like another Battelle in China.He is also the only player in the China Youth Team who has an overall physical advantage over his opponents.According to Geng Xiangzhi's tactical arrangement in advance, as long as there is a gap, Li Zheng's pass will be passed to him as soon as possible.

The U.S. team has never lacked excellent big men. Song Liuming, who made his international debut for the first time, once again let the audience witness this sentence. "Boom boom boom..." The strong slam dunks unscrupulously ravaged the basket again and again.Compared with his predecessors in the U.S. team, Song Liuming has a stronger physique and a tougher style of work. Under Geng Xiangzhi's training, he seems to have made a further breakthrough in how to use his talent. Take the position, dunk with both hands, layup with one hand, and send the basketball into the basket with the hook.The Chinese audience in front of the TV was hooked. Even when he made two fouls and knocked his opponent far away, there were still many Chinese fans cheering in front of the TV.

Song Liuming is also one of Geng Xiangzhi's exceptionally recruited players. In the previous era when the Twin Towers ruled the national youth team, he never had the opportunity to show his face in the national youth team.In the club, due to the strong inside players in the team, he did not get many chances to play due to his shallow qualifications.When Geng Xiangzhi gave up the sluggish "Twin Towers" and called him into the team, the media commented: This is another manifestation of Geng Xiangzhi's dizziness.

Song Liuming's performance at this moment is undoubtedly a fierce counterattack to the media's initial suspicion of him.Although his skills are a bit rough, he already has the prototype of an excellent center forward.And with his physical fitness, he obviously still has a lot of potential to tap.While the eyes of the experienced fans of the TV brightened, they were also delighted that another outstanding center forward will appear in China.The scouts of each team watching the game also secretly wrote down Song Liuming's name.

With his back to the basket to catch the ball, Song Liuming turned around and shot decisively, "Wow!" The basketball went into the basket again!
"Flute!" The US team called a timeout.On the field, the tactics of the China Youth Team are already very obvious. With Song Liuming on the inside as the core of the tactics, they will play hard on the inside.Although the American team's center forward is good, he is obviously inferior in strength, and has been singled out by Song Liuming several times.Adjusting tactics at this time is a matter of course.

After the timeout, the game restarts.The US team adjusted their tactics and replaced a tall inside player with a guard. Obviously this was aimed at Song Liuming.For the American team with superior attack power, such a substitution will not affect their attack power.Some of them are high scorers.

The US team's defense obviously worked. When Song Liuming got the ball, the opponent's two inside players double-teamed him so that he had no chance.The double team also effectively blocked Song Liuming's passing route.

"Crack!" The ball was still passed, and the one who caught the ball was the timely running position to support Li Zhenhua. The position where the ball was caught was the half-block zone near the penalty area, which was the empty space where no one was guarding. Li Zhenhua raised his hand to shoot, "Shua!" Basketball Respond into the basket.

Li Zhenhua is a very good second center. Shooting from this position is his best scoring method.

The so-called second center is generally a player who is close to the rebound and whose main task is to attack and fight for rebounds.Its connotation is similar to that of a power forward, but compared to a power forward in the general sense, the second center is usually a good scorer.The God of War Liu Yudong of the second team of the Shanghai Sharks Bayi Team and Gong Xiaobin of the Shandong Team are the most outstanding representatives of this position.

The U.S. team has always attached great importance to the second center forward. How can the Geng Xiangzhi National Youth Team be an exception?

The US team adjusted their tactics, and the Chinese youth team immediately confronted each other. Geng Xiangzhi's on-the-spot command made the Chinese fans waiting in front of the TV greatly admired.But there are still some people who are dissatisfied with him - those who expect Li Changgeng to play.Until now, Geng Xiangzhi has no intention of letting Li Changgeng play.

At the game scene, Li Changgeng, who was watching the game from the sidelines, looked calm, maybe a little eager, shouting for his teammates on the field with his fists clenched, and handing towels to the teammates who came off the field. He didn't feel that Geng Xiangzhi didn't let him play.On the playing field, the coach represents the absolute authority, and this cognition has already been deeply imprinted in his heart in his previous life.

On the field, after the U.S. team adjusted their tactics, Song Liuming's chances to score suddenly decreased a lot, but the offense of the China Youth Team was still sharp.Song Liuming relies on his huge body to stand on the inside, and can distribute the ball in all directions after receiving the ball.The other four players on the field are absolutely good shooters.Sima Shenji in particular is a leading scorer who can shoot from any position.The personal strength of the Chinese youth team members may not be as good as their opponents, but they have a solid foundation for shooting one by one.When the opportunity arises, it is not difficult for them to send the basketball to the basket.

Li Zheng's offensive passing organization, Song Liuming's inside distribution and splitting, the Chinese youth team with these two people as the core is showing a strong offensive power.Sima Shenji and Li Zhenhua can always send the basketball to the basket comfortably.

Throughout the second quarter, the China Youth Team continued to maintain this evenly matched situation with their opponents.

At this time, the most excited thing is the Chinese fans watching the game in front of the TV.Being able to draw with the US team, even if it is only a short period of time, is enough to satisfy them.Geng Xiangzhi's Chinese youth team has a clear difference from any previous Chinese national team: the offensive methods are varied, and the five players on the court really form an organic whole, instead of relying on one or two excellent insiders Players and opponents fight to the death.Moreover, this Chinese youth team has a more tenacious style of work, and no player has shown timidity in the face of a strong enemy like China.The eyes of the fans are discerning, and they are satisfied with the performance of the China Youth Team; the fans are always the most fair, and the doubts and dissatisfaction with Geng Xiangzhi before the game have gradually disappeared in this game.

Now there is only one last question left. When will Li Changgeng, who was recruited by Geng Xiangzhi, play and what kind of performance will he have?
But so far, Geng Xiangzhi has no intention of letting him play.

Relying on the excellent performance of Li Zheng and Song Liuming, the China Youth Team and their opponents once again drew with each other, 51:53, and the first half ended.

It scored [-] points in the half, which was the first time in the history of the American team playing against the world's top teams.

The second half begins.

In the first half, the U.S. team was tied with a "third-rate team in the world". This is absolutely unacceptable for the U.S. team. At the beginning of the second half, the players of the U.S. team seemed to wake up at once, and the stormy attack started in the second half. Sweeping half of the Chinese youth team.Breaking through the ball, dismantling screens, and exquisite cooperation, the players of the US team showed others with their performance that they are not just juggling personal skills.

Point guard Chris Hayes was in charge of the entire US offense, and when he returned to the court in the second half, he immediately showed his unparalleled strength as a point guard at this position.The U.S. team has never lacked players with outstanding personal strength. In fact, every player on the field is not inferior to the youth team members in their respective positions.And once the strengths of these players are integrated, it will definitely be a terrifying thing for all opponents.Chris Hayes certainly did just that.His speed is fast and his movements are unusually flexible.Li Zheng, who was defending him, could not stop his breakthrough at all.Breaking through disrupts the defense of the China Youth team; once his teammates have a gap, his pass will never be late; he can shoot from a long distance outside the three-point line, and he has demonstrated the qualities necessary for an excellent point guard. Impeccable.

After Li Zheng was broken by him several times on the field, Sima Shenji consciously assisted Li Zheng to double-team him, but Chris Hayes was always able to pass the basketball out of the double-team.The other four on the U.S. team aren't stupid. Isn't it easy and simple for four-on-three and four high scorers to send the basketball to the basket?

Moreover, led by him, the American team's offensive rhythm suddenly accelerated.The five Chinese players on the field all have very strong offensive capabilities. The fast-paced game made it difficult for the Chinese youth team to find the focus of defense.

The U.S. team changed not only their offensive rhythm, but also their defense with a 2-3 mixed defense. The 2-3 combination is a defensive system that combines zone defense and man-to-man defense. It is a tactic that combines the advantages of the two defenses.When Li Zheng was holding the ball, Chris Hayes and another guard of the US team double-teamed him and blocked Li Zheng's pass to the inside Song Liuming.When the ball was passed to Song Liuming, Li Zhenhua, and Sima Shenji on the inside, the US team's double-team inside made it impossible for them to attack.The ball was passed to the outside, and the U.S. team, which resumed man-to-man defense, did not allow the outside shooters of the China Youth Team to have an easy chance to score.

The situation of the game took a turn for the worse, and the US team quickly played a 10:0 climax to open the score between the two sides.

Geng Xiangzhi called a timeout.Adjusting tactics at this time is a matter of course.

Geng Xiangzhi had a clear view of the situation on the field.

Obviously, the engine of the US team's offense is Chris Hayes. His speed is extremely fast and his breakthrough is sharp. Those who defend him must be able to keep up with his breakthrough.

The US team's defense is a 2-3 mixed zone defense. Although this defense combines the advantages of zone defense and man-marking, it can maintain strong pressure on the opponent's ball-handler, but the triangle position will leave a lot of space for the bottom line. .To deal with this kind of defense, there are usually three ways: place an excellent three-point shooter in their zone, have an inside player who is good at passing in their zone, and add a player who is good at passing to make the basketball fast. The pass to the opponent's baseline space.

Combining the two elements of offense and defense, Li Changgeng is obviously the most suitable candidate-his speed is the fastest in the national youth team, and he can only defend Chris Hayes; he is good at three-pointers The ball, and the best passer, he is the best candidate to crack the opponent's mixed zone defense.

However, after Geng Xiangzhi wandered around the lineup of the opposite US team, and then thought about the two opponents he was about to meet later, he finally gave up this tempting idea.

After the timeout, the game restarts.

Geng Xiangzhi replaced center Li Zhenhua with shooting guard Deng Yu.Deng Yu is an excellent three-point shooter, and he is not slow.When defending, he guards Chris Hayes, and Li Zheng assists.

In the offense of the China Youth Team, Sima Shenji on the inside assisted in passing the ball. After adding Deng Yu, a three-point shooter on the outside, the China Youth Team had three shooters on the outside.The offensive power of the outside line has increased, and the defensive area of ​​the US team has expanded, which also gave the inside line Song Liuming and Sima Shenji a chance.

Geng Xiangzhi's tactical adjustment was quite successful. After the substitution, the China Youth team began to score, and the breakthrough of Chris Hayes was initially contained.In general, the tactical adjustment had an immediate effect.

No matter how clever the tactics are, it still depends on the players to execute them.There is a clear difference between the players of the Chinese youth team and their opponents in terms of personal strength.The shooting percentage is a little lower than the US team, the rebounds are a few fewer than the US team, and the turnovers are a few more times than the US team... All these things add up, and the situation gradually falls to the US team.

At the end of the third quarter, the China Youth Team has fallen behind by more than ten points.In the fourth quarter, after the physical advantages of the American players were shown, the leading score continued to expand.The score difference in the last 5 minutes was more than [-] points, and the game entered garbage time.

80:107, the China Youth Team lost the first game.

Li Changgeng didn't get a chance to play in the whole game.

There is an obvious gap in strength between the two sides, and it is understandable to lose the game.For the vast majority of Chinese fans, the performance of the China Youth Team has far exceeded their imagination.The final result was the best in the history of the confrontation between the two teams of China and the United States in the past ten years.

Song Liuming, Sima Shenji, and Li Zheng all played well in the game, and the voice of doubting Geng Xiangzhi's coaching ability before the game also dropped a lot after this game.Although the situation of advancing to the quarter-finals is still very serious, after this game, some people began to quietly calculate the possibility of the US team advancing.

A failed game gave the fans hope. For Geng Xiangzhi and the National Youth Team, this is already a very good result.After all, no one expected the China Youth Team to win this game.

But there are still people who are deeply disappointed in this game!
Selena, Mozart, Li Changgeng's friends from the University of California in Los Angeles, Hong Lingyu, Nongguang's opponents in Li Changgeng's league, everyone who was looking forward to seeing him play was disappointed.

After Geng Xiangzhi changed his tactics for the first time in the second half, Zhao Yu in front of the TV sighed deeply. He knew that he would not see Li Changgeng play in this game.

There are naturally many reasons for Li Changgeng not to play, and Zhao Yu, who is also a professional coach, naturally knows Geng Xiangzhi's considerations.

(End of this chapter)