Champion, please stay!

Chapter 111, page 109: Passionate Rose, Yiku Connection!
From the moment Yi Shui took position, the fans started booing. After Yi Shui slammed the ball into the basket, the boos in the arena paused for a moment, then started sporadically again, before becoming even more frenzied.

The substitutes from both teams were hurling insults at each other.

Hollins: Low post back-to-the-basket move!

Although it looks like a face-up dunk at the end, the low post positioning, receiving the ball with one step and turning to drive hard is definitely a low post back-to-the-basket move!
However, Yi Shui's rhythm is different from most inside players, and also different from Mark Jackson, Andre Miller, and other perimeter post-up specialists who lack athleticism and rely on static strength.

Hollins, who started as an assistant coach in the late 80s, immediately remembered that Barkley and Jordan, with their explosive athleticism, often used this back-to-the-basket drive when facing taller defenders.

However, Yi Shui is not exactly the same as those two. Those two play like this mainly at close to mid-range, while Yi Shui positions himself directly under the basket.

Hollins has a hard time saying which method is better, but for a player like Yi Shui who has height, explosiveness, and ball control, this is a good way to back down the ball—simple and direct.

Hollins: Am I back in 10 years? A rookie can actually back down?

On the other side, the Knicks coaching staff, although they knew that Yi Shui had been practicing post-up moves before the start of the training camp and that Yi Shui was improving quickly, had also said during the timeout that if the game fell into a half-court offense and the opponent's big center was not under the basket, they would try to play in the low post. Since the opponent did not bring their big center back after the timeout, they would definitely play in the low post.

But D'Antoni and others didn't expect Yi Shui's back-to-the-basket game to be like this, even though he usually practiced slow and steady basic skills.

Walsh: I can't believe it. Mark's back-to-back game is so simple, yet the back-to-back players he teaches are so aggressive.

On the ESPN commentary team, one of the two broadcasters of the game, Walsh's partner asked what was on Walsh's mind: "Mark, I heard you're Brook's post-up coach? I didn't expect your post-up game to be so slow, yet your students are so aggressive."

'What did I teach him? I just helped him adjust the details of his back-to-the-basket moves, demonstrated and described various types of back-to-the-basket moves, and edited together some highlights of back-to-the-basket masters from the 80s and 90s...'

Mark Jackson was also shocked, but while thinking that, he replied, "People always want what they lack. I don't have that kind of athletic ability, but Brook does, so of course I want him to try it, mainly because he's good at it."

Brook is an extremely rare genius; even the phrase "once in ten or twenty years" is insufficient to describe him…

The visual impact of the two teams on the field is even more stunning!
The Grizzlies players, who immediately got into the offensive game, temporarily diverted their attention by switching between offense and defense.

The Knicks players, who retreated to defend, were in high spirits and became more aggressive in switching and helping on defense. Although their actual defensive impact was not much improved, the Grizzlies still created open mid-range shooting opportunities for them.

But their fighting spirit and momentum affected Warrick, who received the ball. Warrick's shot from the left side of the free-throw line, which was usually quite accurate, went straight into the rim!

Birdman positions himself, Yi Shui secures the defensive rebound, and a counterattack begins!

The Knicks pressed forward as a team, and Yi Shui passed the ball to Du Hong while moving forward, then charged towards the frontcourt empty-handed.

Hollins, as expected of a top-tier defensive assistant coach who worked with Hubie Brown for several years, has already got the most basic formation right in less than two weeks. The Grizzlies' speed is up to par, and even when they retreat hastily, their formation remains intact. It looks like the Grizzlies are about to push them into a half-court game again.

But Yi Shui didn't stop, and went straight for the basket!

The psychological trauma of being overpowered and dunked on in the low post in the previous round affected the Grizzlies' defensive mentality on the defensive end, with everyone in the paint crowding towards Yi Shui.

Du Hong lobbed the ball to Birdman, who jumped off the left sideline of the three-second zone, caught it, slid down the court, and slammed it home for two points!

After scoring, Birdman bent down, spread his arms, and circled the field to retreat in defense!
The boos from the fans in the stadium seemed to tear the eardrums of both sides apart!

Seeing this, feeling the rising momentum on the other side and the gradually sinking pressure on his own side, Rose received the serve and advanced the ball, signaling Lowry to move aside; he was going to take over!
Chris Duhon, hailed as the best defensive point guard in the East after Kidd left, is, in Rose's eyes, without the defensive twin towers of Ben Wallace and PJ Brown, even if Duhon were given a forward like Yi Shui, he would just be a more stable anchor.

Rose made a quick change of direction, successfully shaking off Duhon and driving into the paint!
Yi Shui left Warrick, who had just missed a shot, wide open and retreated to the basket.

Rose saw Yi Shui's movement, but just like before the timeout, he changed direction while moving to get past Harrington who was helping to defend, and then drove straight towards the basket!

When they got close, Rose grabbed the ball and stepped out with his left foot. Yi Shui thought the opponent was going to jump, so he rushed forward. But Rose took a second step!

Rose dodged Yi Shui, jumped on his right foot, soared high behind Yi Shui, and slammed the ball into the basket with both hands!
22-25, the Grizzlies are keeping the score close! The arena erupted! The cheers were no less than the boos after Yi Shui's powerful dunk in the previous game!
Rose was thrilled to hear the cheers and see the changes in his teammates' eyes and expressions. He wanted to trash talk Yi Shui and show off.

But when he looked up, he saw Yi Shui clapping at him and saying, "Beautiful! No one but you can do a dunk like that, jumping off your non-dominant foot."

Upon hearing this, Rose immediately turned and ran back to the backcourt, earning praise from the opponents as an honor for a player, but!
Rose: Can you let me show off for 3 seconds first? Two seconds would be fine, or even just one second to make an expression!
As expected, this guy is his most hated opponent!
When the Knicks went on offense, Yi Shui continued to drive into the paint.

The Grizzlies players weren't as prone to overreacting as they were in the previous game, but their overall defense still tended to drop.

If Arthur can't stop Yi Shui's back-to-the-basket moves, then it's even less likely that the other forwards can. Yi Shui's back-to-the-basket moves are fast and powerful, and it's too late to double-team him after he receives the ball. The only option is to set up a double-team and intercept pass formation in advance.

Thanks to Yi Shui's defensive pressure on the opponent, the Knicks had better opportunities on the perimeter, and most importantly, they had completely built up their momentum!

On the other side, the Grizzlies regained momentum thanks to Rose's dunk.

Rose's charisma on the court is probably unmatched in the league today. Even though every teammate felt that the opposing Yi Shui team shouldn't be viewed as rookies and that they were definitely stronger than Rose, they were still inspired by Rose and followed him into battle without hesitation.

After Pau Gasol and Mike Miller left, Rudy Gay was the nominal leader, but the newcomer Derrick Rose became the de facto leader as soon as he stepped onto the court!

Moreover, even after Yi Shui and Rose were substituted at the end of the quarter, both sides maintained their momentum despite a drop in firepower, playing with great impact and continuing their high-scoring duel led by Curry, Harrington, Wilson Chandler, Conley, Gay, and Lowry.

At the end of the first quarter, the Knicks led the Grizzlies 41-37 thanks to a three-pointer from Curry.

In the second quarter, the two teams continued their fierce battle. The Grizzlies, with the return of Marc Gasol, along with Conley and Gay, took the initiative.

The Knicks' poor roster became apparent at this point; apart from Yi Shui, no one else could serve as the spearhead of their run-and-gun offense.

The Suns back then, besides Stoudemire, also had Marion, and the Knicks... had two obese players whose combined salaries were nearly $2000 million.

But the rookie point guard duo of Curry and Chalmers used their three-point shooting to withstand the opponent's counterattack!

It wasn't until 4 minutes and 22 seconds into the game that Gay hit a pull-up three-pointer to tie the score at 52-52!
In those four minutes, the Knicks trailed 11-15, but the rookie point guards helped Yi Shui get plenty of rest!
D'Antoni called a timeout and brought Yi Shui back in, while Hollins also made targeted substitutions, bringing in Rose and Lowry.

Yi Shui and Rose continued to lead their teams in the battle. At halftime, Yi Shui received the ball at the top of the arc, turned around, and hit a three-pointer over the opposing substitute forward Darius Miles. The Knicks took a 76-74 lead over the Grizzlies into halftime!
After halftime, D'Antoni did not let Yi Shui rest first as he had in the previous two games, but instead put Yi Shui in the starting lineup.

Hollins continued to put Rose in, even though he didn't understand offense as well as D'Antoni.

However, even if you've never seen a pig run, you've at least eaten pork.

He knew that in this kind of offensive battle, the momentum absolutely could not falter! After a 20-minute halftime break, it was time to regain the initiative!
The third quarter begins with the Grizzlies taking the lead!
Rose drove into the paint, jumped, and finished with a low layup using both hands and his left hand!
During the offensive and defensive transition, Yi Shui also received the ball on the outside and launched an attack. Using the rhythm, he brushed past the tightly guarding Arthur and drove straight into the inside, scoring a layup over the onrushing Warrick!
It was the Grizzlies' turn to attack again. Rose had only his eyes on the basket. He knew he couldn't afford to lose the point now, or the Grizzlies would regain the lead! And this ball had to be his!

Amid cheers from the fans, Rose dribbled into the elbow area, changed direction, and crossed to the front of the basket, at the top of the restricted area, before lobbing the ball off the backboard and scoring!
Yi Shui continued to ask for the ball, suddenly stopped inside the three-point line, grabbed the ball, and launched a long two-pointer over Arthur who was rushing back, shooting with great determination.

He also knew the importance of this battle. Rose was the Grizzlies' source of passion, and he was equally important to the Knicks, serving as the spearhead leading the charge!
So he didn't go inside, where he was double-teamed. He had no choice but to pass the ball. His low-post offense is limited to one move, and he plays very straightforwardly when facing the basket. Once he passes the ball, his momentum is weaker than Rose's. Therefore, he chooses to go one-on-one on the outside, which is his strongest offensive method right now.

This decisive two-pointer from the right 45-degree angle drew a beautiful arc and landed in the basket, a perfect answer!
The pressure is on Rose once again!

The interior defense was all set up for Yi Shui, but he didn't go! But he wasn't afraid; charging forward was everything to him right now!
To lead the team forward, Rose is no less capable than Yi Shui, but when it comes to scoring in one-on-one situations, his style of play lacks consistency...

Rose once again broke into the paint, only to be shut down by Yi Shui's help defense! Although he used his exaggerated change of direction to shake off Yi Shui on the baseline and slip to the other side, his jump shot was slapped onto the backboard by Swift who rushed in!
The ball bounced out and was intercepted by Curry, who launched a counterattack!
Curry passed the ball during the drive, Yi Shui went deep into the paint and attracted a double team before passing it back to Curry at the top of the arc. He then unleashed a three-pointer over Lowry who came out to pounce... and it went in!
Let's go!

The commentator on CNN shouted, "YI... Curry...!"

The Knicks extended their lead to 5 points again, 83-78!
(End of this chapter)