Champion, please stay!

Chapter 109, Section 107: Battle with the Rose (Part 1)

At 7:40 p.m., at Philips Arena, the Knicks players entered the arena amidst a deafening chorus of boos from the fans.

Yi Shui, who came out last, received the warmest welcome, with boos that seemed to pierce the ceiling of the stadium.

This is the most enthusiastic away game the Knicks have faced so far in the preseason.

During the preseason, away fans don't care about winning or losing; some fans even come specifically to see the number one draft pick.

In the first two away games of the regular season, the 76ers were embroiled in internal strife, and more people booed Brand than the Knicks; the Wizards' home games were not even full.

Memphis basketball market is heating up again, as if it's back to the years when the Grizzlies first moved here. The reason is... when the home team entered the arena, Derrick Rose, the first player to run out, ignited cheers from the entire arena!

When Guy came out last, he didn't receive as much cheers as Rose.

In the first week of the new season, the 08 draft class had a stellar performance, with more than 10 rookies scoring in double figures. The last time such a phenomenon occurred was back in the 90s.

Five rookies stood out, with Yi Shui in a league of his own, and the other four—

快船队的凯文-乐福，场均14分8板；篮网队的大洛佩茨，场均12分9板；森林狼队的梅奥，场均19分3板4助攻；还有就是罗斯，场均15分3板7助攻。

Compared to the others, Rose's performance was the most surprising.

Even Memphis fans with the 'local college prodigy filter' didn't expect Rose to perform so well.

They have similar playing styles and performances in college, but Westbrook is still playing as a substitute and adapting to the pace of NBA games.

The Grizzlies even changed coaches after the preseason due to Rose's performance, firing 'tanking hero' Mark Iafaroni and replacing him with Lionel Hollins, who had previously helped Hubie Brown build their defensive system.

According to reports, the Grizzlies originally wanted to continue tanking, just like the Thunder, but Rose's playing style was too infectious!
During the preseason, the other Grizzlies players played with the same passion and intensity as the Memphis Tigers players last season.

The Grizzlies' management was worried that forcing a tanking phase would hinder Rose's development, so they decisively ended the tanking cycle and entered the team system building phase.

Although the Grizzlies' record in the first 6 games was still not good, with 2 wins and 4 losses, their mental outlook was completely different. The fans who came to the stadium could see that every player was trying their best to win!
Rose's early performance and influence within the team would have made him a clear favorite for Rookie of the Year in previous seasons, but in the 08 draft class...

It's all because of the top scorer on the other side who cost hundreds of millions!
...

After the opening ceremony, the two teams exchanged pleasantries before the match.

Yi Shui could sense that Rose's hostility was even stronger in this stadium atmosphere than in the morning.

This made him even more excited!

The task began as soon as we entered.

"Derrick Rose will surely become a dazzling rival in your career, like fireworks... Mission: The Budding Rose Triggered."

Objective 1: Block Rose at least once. Reward: 2 hours of interception training cards for each block.

Objective 2: Win the race. Reward: Speed ​​+1.

Yi Shui glanced at the opposing lineup: Rose, Conley, Lowry, Tinsley... Their point guard line could probably play mahjong.

High-ranking lottery tickets like Conley, which have already been "drawn successfully," are not so easy to sell.

Other teams wanted to lower the price, but the Grizzlies certainly didn't want to be at a disadvantage. The game started at 8 PM!
The Knicks' starting lineup remains unchanged, while the Grizzlies' starting lineup consists of Rose, Conley, Gay, Hakeem Warrick, and Gasol.

Swift wins the jump ball, and the Knicks go first!
Now, the 130-plus-kilogram "Fat Sister" Gasol didn't even jump; he just tiptoed, waved his hand, and retreated to defend.

Curry received the ball and sprinted forward at full speed, but the opposing team, led by Gasol, still maintained their defensive formation.

In the first attack, Curry passed the ball to the right at a 45-degree angle, and Yi Shui received the ball, straightened his body, and took a step forward.

Guy abruptly stepped back to prevent his junior, who was taller and far more violent than him back then, from ramming him into his path... He immediately lunged back, but it was too late!

Yi Shui took a step and immediately retrieved the ball, pulled up, and launched a three-pointer... using his senior as a cannon emplacement, he sniped from a high tower and the three-pointer went in!

Yi Shui was very familiar with Gay's defensive style.

In my past life, one of the reasons why Gay was criticized the most during his time with the Grizzlies and was eventually released by the Grizzlies was that he was too "protective" on defense and unwilling to engage in physical contact. His defensive threat was not commensurate with his physical talent. In my memory, Gay was also like that in his freshman year, often letting opposing shooters get open.

Rose saw Yi Shui make a three-pointer and said to Curry, "You get assists so easily."

"Yep."

"?"

Rose looked at Curry, who ran back to high-five Yi Shui, and was completely puzzled. Did he just admit it like that?

Did he say something offensive, or was he just chatting casually with the other person?
During the offensive and defensive transition, Curry saw Yi Shui staying at the top arc and scurried over to him, then pulled Conley to the wing—that bastard Brook, who actually tried to scare me by telling me to guard Rose!

Curry was helpless against explosive and fast opponents like Felton and Westbrook, and was completely outmatched. Rose, on the other hand, was even more formidable than those two!
However, he was puzzled as to why Conley had accepted the arrangement of playing as a pitcher on the wing and leading the team in the second unit... Rose advanced, and he immediately focused on defense.

At the top of the arc, Yi Shui and Rose began their first matchup on the NBA court.

Rose made a change of direction and drove forward, and Yi Shui guided the direction of the drive and chased him down, just as well as he did in that college game... but he couldn't stop him!
Rose made a high-speed change of direction at close range, dodging Swift who rushed in and Yi Shui who chased down the block, and turned to throw a shot on the left side of the restricted area... and it went in!
Hearing the deafening cheers from the fans in the stadium, Yi Shui felt the pressure.

The absence of the three-second rule is tantamount to an epic upgrade for Rose!
Rose saw the Knicks' interior defense as an empty backyard... No wonder the requirements for Mission Objective 1 were so 'low'.

When it was the Knicks' turn to attack, Yi Shui didn't continue with his one-on-one play; Curry and Swift initiated the offense with a pick-and-roll.

Hakim Warrick was the one who stepped out to defend the pick-and-roll.

Yi Shui came to the elbow area to block Gasol's side. He didn't block him completely, but it was enough. David Lee spread out, received a pass from Curry, and made a mid-range shot!
Curry, who had two assists at the start of the game, happily retreated... no more giggling.

That damn Brook said, "Go guard Rose," and then ran to the wing to guard Gay!
Ross advanced, glanced at Yi Shui on the flank, and continued his charge!
Curry gritted his teeth and tried his best to defend... but was completely outmaneuvered.

Facing David Lee, who had received the ball early under the basket, and Yi Shui, who came over from the wing, Rose passed the ball to Gasol, who then passed it to Gay, who received the ball and made a long two-pointer!
Yi Shui didn't stop moving and immediately picked up the ball and passed it to Curry.

Curry was annoyed that he couldn't keep up with Rose's pace at all, and his defensive movements weren't even as fast as Yi Shui, the second tallest player on the court. But as soon as he received the ball, he immediately went all out to advance... This damn chemistry was something he had developed when he was getting beaten up in college.

The Grizzlies players didn't even have time to celebrate the play; they quickly retreated on defense, but still found themselves in a 4-on-5 situation. David Lee received a pass from Curry at the high post and lobbed it to the basket...

Marc Gasol was still on his way back... He had just run to the three-point line when he saw Yi Shui dunk with an alley-oop, scoring two points with both hands. He could only turn around and keep running...

Now the pressure is on Rose. The opposing team, whose number one draft pick is now incredibly tall, has a simple and direct strategy. Rose understood it immediately – if you can't defend their drive and pass, go for it! Take advantage of their slow center!

(End of this chapter)