NBA: Goat is actually me

Chapter 7: Making a science fiction movie?
Seven days later.

Virginia.

Churchland High School.

All games during the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament were played here.

Meng Jin has had a brief understanding of the event in the past few days. Every year before the draft, the NBA will arrange a training camp in Portsmouth, which is less popular than the joint training camp held in Chicago.

The invitational tournament lasts for four days, with a total of 8 teams, 8 players per team, and each team plays three games.

Meng Jin knew very well that as long as he set foot on this field, he must try his best.

Because the players who come to participate in the tournament are those whose draft prospects are not very good, they will really try their best to be noticed by scouts.

After 7 days of devilish training, Meng Jin's [mid-range shot] attribute increased by 1 point. Don't underestimate 1 point. Meng Jin's [mid-range shot] attribute soared from 59 to 60, which is equivalent to going from failing to passing.

Well, it’s really useless, it’s just psychological comfort.

Meng Jin suspected that there was something wrong with his training method. Blind training was not a solution. He planned to hire a professional trainer, but before that he had to play the Portsmouth Invitational seriously.

"Are you a scout? Or a professional manager?"

As Meng Jin walked into the stadium, he was stopped by a voice.

Meng Jin turned around and saw a silly guy.

I looked again and, damn, Scottie Pippen?

Pippen's temperament during this period was completely different from what Meng Jin remembered. He was like a guy who grew up in the countryside and came to the city for the first time.

In fact, the situation is similar.

Meng Jin was not angry because of Pippen's admission of mistake. His fashion sense was different from those players. They all wore hip-hop baseball jerseys or leather jackets, while Meng Jin wore a suit with gold-rimmed glasses, going for an elegant style.

"I'm here to participate in the competition." Meng Jin smiled.

"Oh! Sorry, I didn't mean to, it's just that your clothes look..." Pippen was a little embarrassed.

"What's your name?" Meng Jin asked knowingly.

"Scottie Pippen, from the University of Arkansas."

"Meng Jin, Syracuse University."

After hearing Meng Jin's introduction, Pippen showed an envious look: "Not bad, a famous basketball school."

After that, Pippen turned to the little guy next to him and said, "HEY, caddy, please get me a towel."

"What's wrong with you? I'm a player!" The little guy looked at Pippen and walked away cursing.

Pippen's already troubled face became even more embarrassed.

Seeing this scene, Meng Jin couldn't help laughing.

A person nearby said with a smile: "That guy is Tiny Bogues. He will definitely be in the first round of this year's draft."

Pippen opened his mouth and said, "Him?"

Pippen looked at the short man's back again. He looked to be about 160cm tall. Pippen couldn't even associate him with basketball, let alone a first-round NBA pick.

Meng Jin immediately reacted and realized that this guy was "Little Bug" Boggs!
Meng Jin looked around, he wanted to see if there were any other players he knew, but unfortunately, most of the players here were unknown, which was similar to the information he had learned before.

This invitational tournament is prepared for marginal draft players. There are almost no players like Boggs who are predicted to be picked in the first round, so it is basically full of unfamiliar faces.

It was only when Meng Jin had a God's perspective that he knew Pippen. Pippen was just an unknown kid in the NCAA's second-tier league, and almost no NBA team paid attention to him.

Soon, all the players were divided into 8 teams.

Meng Jin and Pippen were assigned to the same team.

"You, you, you and you, go first!"

The coach randomly picked a few players based on their height. This is how a temporary team is formed. The coach will allocate subsequent playing time based on the players' performance.

When confirming the last power forward position, the coach glanced at the information and then looked up at Meng Jin: "206CM?"

"Yes."

After hearing Meng Jin's affirmative answer, the coach waved the tactical board and said, "You go play power forward."

"Roger that, Coach!"

In order to avoid playing center, Meng Jin deliberately reported his height shorter. In fact, he wanted to play small forward, but the position was occupied by Pippen.

Meng Jin lied about his height without blushing or being nervous, which is a common practice in professional leagues. You have to know that these shameless black people all report their heights randomly. Those who are 175cm tall dare to report 183cm, and those who are 195cm tall dare to report 203cm. The only difference between Meng Jin and them is that he lied in the opposite direction.

Pippen looked a little unnatural before he took the court.

"Relax, you look a little nervous, Scotty, I've got you covered."

Meng Jin winked at Pippen.

Pippen was still nervous. He whispered to Meng Jin, "Look, was that little guy looking at us?"

Meng Jin followed Pippen's gaze and saw Boggs staring at Pippen with a fierce and murderous look.

"Don't pull me in, he's just staring at you, Scott."

Pippen swallowed and said, "Really?"

"Look at the look in that guy's eyes. He must think you just humiliated him on purpose."

"Shit!" Pippen cursed inwardly.

"He is our opponent tonight, take it easy."

Meng Jin patted Pippen and walked to the center of the court. He was responsible for the jump ball in this game.

Meng Jin easily won the ball.

The team's point guard passed the ball across half court. Meng Jin didn't know the point guard's characteristics, his personality, or where he came from. He only knew his name was Waters, and he only knew this information three minutes ago.

Waters passed the ball to Pippen on the wing.

Pippen did not play a tactical game. He chose to break through and pass the ball immediately after the ball was passed.

Pippen's passing intention was too obvious, and Boggs just flew over and stole the ball!
Boggs does this job. He has superb starting speed and game insight. Otherwise, with his height of 160cm, he would never be ranked in the first round.

After stealing the ball, Boggs ran straight to the front court, as fast as a small electric motor.

In the first round of the game, Boges rushed to the basket and scored two points.

After scoring, Boggs gave Pippen an angry look.

Pippen immediately realized that this guy was going to challenge him.

Second offensive round.

Meng Jin mentioned the high position to cover Waters.

After the pick-and-roll, the opponent chooses to switch defense.

Waters did not use a small player to play against a bigger player. His speed and breakthrough were obviously average.

Waters turned around and passed the ball to Meng Jin in the high position.

The one defending Meng Jin was Boggs.

Super big misalignment.

Meng Jin chose to break through.

The moment the ball was kicked, Boggs disappeared from Meng Jin's sight.

One step over?

While Meng Jin was still thinking about his next offensive route, the basketball in his hand suddenly slipped out of his control.

"Snapped!"

I don't know when Boggs got behind Meng Jin, but his hands were not very clean and he directly poked the ball out.

Boggs said he wanted to give his opponent a little shock from the dwarfs.

"Focus! There are a lot of people lining up to play!" the coach couldn't help but yell.

Pippen and Meng Jin came up and each delivered one. Isn't this the Dragon and the Phoenix?

Fortunately, this time we retreated quickly enough and did not give the opponent a chance to score directly.

In the positional battle, Boges once again made an effort and made a wonderful pass after the pick-and-roll to assist his teammates in scoring.

Boggs is a player who is very good at seizing opportunities. Within less than a minute of the start, he attracted the attention of most scouts.

This is not what Meng Jin wants to see. His purpose of participating in this competition is to highlight his characteristics and get all scouts to pay attention to him, rather than to make wedding dresses for others.

Meng Jin wanted to go outside and receive the ball for one-on-one play. The training in the past few days has improved his ability to connect with the ball. If he could only use about 80% of his dribbling ability of 70 in the NCAA finals, now he can at least use 75-80%.

"Go inside! Go to position!"

After the coach yelled at him, Meng Jin obediently went into the inside.

Before he demonstrates his abilities, he must obey the coach's arrangements, otherwise he may be replaced at any time.

Waters took a mid-range shot directly after the pick-and-roll.

In the training camp, everyone’s first consideration is not winning, but demonstrating their abilities.

How can I demonstrate my abilities?
For most people, the answer is score.

So before coming to the Portsmouth Invitational, Meng Jin was mentally prepared for not being able to receive passes from the defenders. If he wanted the ball, he had to rely on himself!
Pippen said, I think so too!

Pippen rushed for the ball and the two men collided with each other.

At that moment, Meng Jin almost burst into tears.

Although Pippen looks thin, he is quite strong and he hit Meng Jin from the side and rear in the blind spot, so he was caught off guard.

This hit Meng Jin hard.

The two men fell to the ground at the same time, and the coach on the sidelines was speechless.

Looking at Pippen with an innocent face, Meng Jin felt that this guy was here to mess with him.

After Boges got the ball, he pushed forward but didn't have much of a chance to slow down the tempo immediately.

The small point guard controls the tempo of the court with ease.

After the pick-and-roll, Boges was not in a hurry to handle the ball, but held the ball and observed the situation on the court.

Since the team was formed temporarily, teammates would not play any complicated tactics, and most of the time they would mainly use pick-and-roll.

Waters chose to go around the pick-and-roll, and Meng Jin didn't come over.

Boggs made a prompt decision and shot a high jump shot.

Meng Jin took a step forward and immediately jumped up to block the shot.

Boggs didn't care and maintained his rhythm and shooting posture.

Meng Jin was at least three meters away from me. How could he cover me? Do you really think this is a science fiction movie?
"Snapped!"

After a crisp sound, the basketball fell from the air as if it had wilted.

Boggs was shocked, and everyone was stunned.

(End of this chapter)