Champions Creed

Chapter 10: You are the only teammate who can receive my pass

Over the past few months, Roger and his team have unsurprisingly made it to the state finals.

Although Bullock High School only won three games last season, in basketball, it only takes one superstar to change a lot of things.

Especially in high school basketball.

If Roger can't easily dominate high school basketball and make his team invincible, why would he talk about skipping college and heading to the NBA?

On the morning of March 3, Roger and his teammates took a bus to Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana and the venue for the state finals.

Outside the car window, there were posters for the state finals everywhere. The strong atmosphere of the competition told Roger: "This is the most important game in your high school career."

Indeed, the last time Roger was here in the Sunshine Classic he defeated Oak Hill High School, which made him a national name.

But the Oak Hill High School team that won last time was missing its top player, Stackhouse.

Therefore, this is the first time that Roger will go head-to-head with the top five high school students in the United States!
This kind of matchup rarely occurs in high school leagues because there are too many divisions, and the probability of two of the top five in the United States being in the same division is very small.

But now, Roger got just the opportunity he had always dreamed of.

Randy Livingston is the undisputed number one in the United States, and Roger has heard of his name for a long time.

If you're overlooking Randy Livingston because he's only a second-round pick and never really makes it in the NBA, you're making a big mistake.

There is a reason why he can firmly hold the number one position in the United States. You can think of this guy as a slightly weaker version of Dwyane Wade.

The difference between him and Wade is that Wade miraculously succeeded in the NBA after being injured in college, while Livingston became a nobody after being injured in college.

But before the injury, Livingston's physique was very scary.

Now Randy Livingston's breakthrough is like a sharp knife, and no one can resist him.

In addition, he has an extremely high basketball IQ, his defensive details are also very detailed, his passes are as precise as a ruler, and his cuts and passing timings are impeccable.

In short, the newspapers were almost full of praise for him.

As for Roger, as his fame grew, the media began to have some negative comments about him.

Look, in the magazine in Roger's hand, ESPN writer Howard Cooper said:
"He is 193 cm tall, has comprehensive and beautiful skills, can fly, and can score easily. He is the most outstanding one-on-one attacker in high school. Roger has many advantages. But he has two fatal points. He does not understand teamwork, and you rarely see him pass the ball. In addition, he does not know how to read defense at all. Although he can score goals, his shooting choices are very bad. He plays the game like a casual street duel, which will cost him the championship."

Not passing the ball and choosing the wrong time to shoot is almost the opposite of Livingston.

Compared with Livingston, who was both talented and a team player, Roger was portrayed by the media as an unconventional genius.

Everyone's expectation was to see such a proud foreign genius get killed in a car accident in the state finals and be severely beaten by an American genius.

Of course, Roger wouldn't let them have their way.

Considering that in a few years there will be a yellow-skinned, square-faced big guy who beats the American high school geniuses to a pulp, Roger feels that he has an obligation to let Americans get used to what it feels like to see their high school geniuses being beaten, and to give them a shot of prevention.

Hawke glanced at the article Roger was reading and reached out to cover the magazine: "Don't read the nonsense of the media and reporters. You have to use your own talents, understand?"

Hawke doesn't mind Roger taking more shots, as long as he can score efficiently, why not?
If Steak Black Bean, the No. 33 guard at Lower Merion High School, could hear Coach Hawke's thoughts, he would definitely agree. It took so much effort, but I passed the ball into the basket.

Roger nodded. Is that what I call being alone? I have a high basketball IQ! The more people double-team me, the more my teammates will be outnumbered in grabbing offensive rebounds after I shoot, and the easier it is to get a second chance!

It’s just a pity that every time I shoot the ball, it goes straight in.

Well, seriously speaking, it is a good thing that Roger chooses to shoot more because if he passes the ball more, his number of turnovers will definitely soar.

His passing vision and skills still need to be honed.

As for defense, that is something that takes time to hone.

Roger can only use his strongest weapon now to win for the team.

When we arrived at the hotel, the bus was crowded with reporters.

Because this is a rare match between the No. 1 school in the U.S. and the No. 5 school in the U.S. for the state championship, ESPN will broadcast this high school match live for the first time. It is conceivable how much attention this match has received.

In the original history, it was not until the time when James played against Melo that high school students received this kind of treatment.

The players of Brock High School were all stunned when they saw the crowded scene outside the car window.

None of them had ever seen such a big scene.

Even Roger was a little nervous, but as the team leader he was the first to get out of the car.

As soon as he got off the car, a group of reporters surrounded Roger.

"Roger, do you already have a favorite university?"

"What do you think of the fact that you had 40 points and 0 assists in a single game five times this season?"

"Will you be the first Chinese player to play in the NBA?"

Roger walked forward nervously without answering any questions.

Suddenly, the media turned their guns and ran to the other side.

The Isidore Newman High School bus also arrived.

Randy Livingston is different from Roger. He has long been accustomed to such scenes.

After getting off the car, he calmly waved to the fans and answered reporters' questions slowly, like a real star, like the Michael Jordan of high school basketball. Livingston glanced at Roger not far away and nodded politely.

But his teammates were obviously not so friendly. After getting off the bus, the other students from Newman High School looked at Roger with contempt, pointed at him, and whispered.

They still can't believe that this is the opponent they will meet in the finals.

An unknown country school, an Asian who should be in the Mathematical Olympiad class. Seriously? These guys are the ones who want to snatch the championship from us?
It is not surprising that the players of Newman High School have this mentality. After all, this is the first time in the history of the high school league that a team plays with Asian players as the core.

They looked at Bullock High School like the Kentucky Wildcats looked at the Texas Western University Miners in 1966. The then Kentucky coach, "Blueberry Baron" Adolph Rupp, also couldn't believe that the team competing with him for the championship was an all-black starting team.

Roger was used to this kind of look. Many opponents had looked at him in this way before.

But it doesn't matter, they all lost.

By the way, Bullock High School is 35-0 so far this season.

Your dignity is in your own hands, and no one can take anything away from you as long as you don't let them succeed.

Later, at the pre-match press conference held at the hotel, reporters also focused their attention on Newman High School.

Only Hardy from the Jonesville Observer asked Roger a question: "What are your chances of winning the championship?"

"Ten percent."

Roger responded with a burst of laughter.

Brock High School seemed to be just a foil, and no one cared about them at all.

After all, in people's eyes, there is a gap between Roger and Livingston. The gap between the other players from Bullock High School and the players from Newman High School is even greater.

In the hotel room at night, Roger planned to rest early and recharge his energy so that he could go all out tomorrow.

But Andre kept making such a creaking noise in the bed that I couldn't sleep at all.

Roger couldn't stand it any more. What kind of handicraft had to be done now?

"Andre, what the hell are you doing?"

Andre stuck his head out from under the quilt: "Hey, I'm worried, brother."

"No matter how worried you are, you can't always reward yourself, right? Using others to relieve your worries will only make you more worried! Not only will you be worried, but you will also lose your energy!"

"What nonsense are you talking about? I just can't sleep. Hey, my mother had a fight with me again yesterday because I didn't tell her what anniversary was yesterday." Andre said with a sigh.

Don't be surprised, even though Andre is a high school student, he is already a father. This kind of thing is very common in the United States. In black neighborhoods, there are more 15-year-old pregnant girls than cans on the ground. Andre's girlfriend got pregnant at the age of 17 and gave birth at the age of 18, which is considered late in childbearing here.

"So, what anniversary was yesterday?" Roger asked listlessly.

"Wedding anniversary."

"That's your fault. You didn't even remember our wedding anniversary."

"But we're not married yet."

Roger:? ? ?
"What a memorial for the legs!"

"That's what I answered too! But she asked, will we get married on this day next year? Then is this day our anniversary? My CPU burned out!"

"Stop talking Andrei, I'm burning too."

"Hey, I'm getting married next year and my kids are going to be growing up. If I lose tomorrow, I won't be able to go to a good university and find a good job. If I can't find a good job, how am I going to live in the future?"

Andre has a clear understanding of himself. Although the team has a good record this season, it is basically all thanks to Roger.

Many people said that even if Roger had four dogs, he would still be able to make it to the state finals, since he doesn't pass the ball anyway.

So, Andre is still on the verge of receiving an invitation from a good university.

If he can perform well in the state finals and win the game, he will most likely be able to enter a good university and change his destiny.

But if he lost in the much-anticipated state finals, his family would have to continue to live at the bottom of the society for the rest of their lives.

Andre may be lacking in confidence because the big event and press conference today put a lot of pressure on him.

After all, this was a height that Brock High School had never reached, and it was also a height that Andre had never dared to imagine before.

Even Owen Johnson Jr., the first NCAA Division I player in the school team's history, had never led his team to such results.

Roger took a ball of paper and hit Andre's head accurately. "Don't let your imagination run wild. The coach still needs your help in coming up with a good way to limit Livingston. You are the only teammate who can receive my pass. You are very strong! As long as we follow the plan, we will definitely get out of Jonesville!"

When Roger said this from this perspective, Andre suddenly felt that he was indeed very strong!
Going out?

Well, there’s only one game left!

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Thanks to the leader of the group, Smile is so lovely! Thanks to Mimephisto, Juhuacanmandishang and other big guys for the rewards, thank you everyone!

Please read on, please recommend, please vote for me, I’m begging you to do this as a spoiled child!

(End of this chapter)