Basketball Terminal

Chapter 48 Dark Shadow
The game started at 7 p.m. Pacific Time. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there were no spectators at the Staples Center. The stands were covered by purple curtains, and the substitutes' bench seats were spaced apart.

The national anthem and other performances were cancelled before the game, giving the players more time to prepare. Li Wei wore the unnamed number 29, a grey tracksuit jacket, khaki pants, and a mask. Nash gave tactical instructions; Li Wei, who hadn't participated in team drills before, listened attentively to get a feel for the game.

The coach set the tone for the game with several opening plays. With Durant absent, Harden controlled most of the ball, and the offense would originate from beyond the three-point line, with few or no low-post plays. Nash drew up a hammer play, where Jeff Green would set a screen to the corner, receive a pass from Harden, and shoot a three-pointer from the zero-degree angle.

This tactic is commonly used by many teams. In today's highly resource-sharing world, no tactic is exclusive to any one team. All systems, routines, and strategies are open to everyone; anyone can learn and use them. The key is whether you can use them well, whether you can execute the tactic, whether you can make the shots, and whether your players are suited to this type of routine.

The era of relying on "secret techniques" tactical systems to dominate the entire league is over.

Of course, there wasn't just one set of tactics at the start. Building on the hammer's movement, Nash added two variations: Irving's back-cut to the top of the key for a three-pointer, and Bruce Brown's cut to the basket. If these three variations didn't work, there was one more option: James Harden's isolation plays.

Tactics are like project plans. When you actually start working on it, only one-third of the plan can be implemented. Another third requires temporary contingency plans, and the remaining third is left to improvise. Everyone just needs to use their own methods to get the project done.

Li Wei thought to himself, "These are only three variations. If I were to play point guard or high post playmaker, there would be nine variations. I don't even know how I'm going to play next."

As for defense, Li Wei was familiar with it. The Long Island Nets used a strategy that combined 3-2 zone defense with man-to-man defense. The Long Island Nets trained and played for three weeks, and this defensive system was barely formed. With Li Wei's individual ability to make adjustments, the results were not bad.

After seeing the positive results, the Brooklyn Nets coaching staff began incorporating a significant amount of 3-2 zone defense into their training, aiming to create stronger defensive pressure on the perimeter and maintain a powerful fast break capability. This strategy places high demands on the two big men; Kevin Durant was even moved to the power forward position at one point to adapt to this defensive strategy, and Li Wei was also brought back to his original team for this reason.

With Durant absent, Jeff Green and Bruce Brown formed the frontcourt, with Joe Harris at the small forward position. DeAndre Jordan has been dropped from the starting lineup; his offensive shortcomings are significant and he is easily targeted. After weighing the options, the coaching staff believes that maintaining offensive agility and versatility is more important than defensive rim protection and rebounding. Furthermore, Jordan's defense has also declined considerably, and his defensive contributions cannot compensate for his offensive lapses.

Time was up, and the players gathered in the tunnel, forming a circle to encourage each other. Li Wei could only stand on the outermost edge. He didn't want to go to the middle either; a group of burly black and white men huddled together—the smell was really unpleasant. Back with the Long Island Nets, whenever he was squeezed into the middle shouting slogans, Li Wei had to hold his breath. Luckily, he had a large lung capacity, otherwise he would have suffered from hypoxia before the game even started.

As Levi came out of the player tunnel onto the field, someone greeted him: "Hey! Victor! Victor!" The person who greeted him took off his mask; it was Scott Mitchell, who was holding a camera and took a picture of Levi.

"Why are you here? You didn't message me!"

“I sent you a text message, but you might be too busy to see it. I just arrived an hour ago.”

"You came to watch my match?"

"I need to do a live report. Do your best, Viktor! Will you get a chance to play?"

"Let's see how it goes. I guess I can take lots of photos!"

Scott Mitchell gave an OK sign. Unbeknownst to Levi, Mitchell had gone to great lengths to get to Los Angeles. As a regular writer, he wasn't qualified to cover away games. But he knew Levi might be making his career debut, and he didn't want to miss it. So he applied to the editor-in-chief, repeatedly lobbying, and finally paid for his own round-trip airfare and hotel to secure the opportunity to come and report live.

Upon learning that Levi had signed with the Nets, Scott Mitchell realized that a beautiful story was about to take shape, only lacking a final touch: Levi's debut on an NBA court. He had to come to Los Angeles to witness this moment firsthand; it was Levi's opportunity, and it was Mitchell's opportunity as well.

Scott Mitchell reviewed the starting rosters for both teams and saw two pieces of good news for Levi. One was that Nets center Noah Vonleh tested negative for the virus and, according to pandemic regulations, would miss this game and be observed for 5-10 days before returning to the court.

Like Levi, Von Lai was a player on a 10-day short-term contract and was entering his second 10-day period. If he didn't get more opportunities to perform, he would be cut. His absence gave Levi more playing time.

The second positive factor is that Anthony Davis will miss this game due to injury, significantly weakening the Lakers' interior strength and increasing the likelihood of Levi's return to the court. Anthony Davis's outstanding performance in the bubble games last year was evident to all; if he were to play, Nash would have to think twice before substituting any other center. Tonight, there is no such concern.

Even so, whether Levi will get to play still depends on luck. Scott Mitchell prayed from the sidelines that Levi would get to play, make no mistakes, and have one or two highlights worth writing a story about. Otherwise, the story might very well end with a realistic tale of an ordinary man's unfulfilled ambitions and his cruelly shattered NBA dream.

All the lights in the stadium facing the main field were turned on, and the bright yellow floor was dazzling. The logo in the midfield was surrounded by 17 stars, representing the team's glorious history of 17 championships.

The NBA is fifty years ahead of other national and regional leagues in terms of on-site lighting and floor decoration alone. The lighting and flooring of many CBA arenas are only at the level of the NBA in the 70s.

Li Wei has played in many professional leagues. Most arenas in China have fixed flooring, unlike the NBA where the flooring can be changed for different games. The arenas in the Philippines are the most basic, but incredibly lively and have a great atmosphere. The cheerleading squads in Taiwan are the most energetic, with endless shots of the ball and legs.

The NBA is the brightest and newest, with everything clearly visible under the lights—it's truly the center stage. Li Wei once watched the Nets' bench from the Barclays Center; now he's a member of that bench. How far is he from stepping onto the court?

The match was about to begin. Even without spectators, the voices of the technical staff, referees, and players on the field could be clearly heard. Li Wei couldn't make out what they were saying; his attention was completely focused on the game.

The Lakers are wearing retro Minneapolis-era light blue jerseys tonight. With Davis out due to injury, Kyle Kuzma will start at power forward, and Marc Gasol will play center.

The defending champion Lakers underwent a major roster overhaul in the summer. They let go of championship heroes Dwight Howard, Rajon Rondo, Danny Green, and JaVale McGee, and signed Marc Gasol, Wesley Matthews, Jared Dudley, and other players in return, sparking considerable controversy.

While the Lakers do have a tradition of retaining their core roster and replacing role players after winning a championship to maintain their hunger for more titles, from the Show-Time era in the 1980s to the three-peat of Shaq and Kobe and the two-peat of Kobe, they have always used this method to maintain roster fluidity.

The Lakers' move this time was indeed too drastic, effectively eliminating half of their starting lineup. So far this season, the Lakers have performed reasonably well, with a 22-7 record, ranking second in the Western Conference. However, the departures of Howard and McGee have placed greater pressure on Anthony Davis in the paint, seriously threatening the injury-prone player's health.

A few days ago, during the Lakers' game against the Nuggets, Davis left the court in the second quarter due to discomfort in his right Achilles tendon. He was later diagnosed with Achilles tendinitis and will miss 2-3 weeks of games, or even longer.

Davis's health directly determines whether the Lakers can defend their title. Last season, the pandemic shortened and postponed the schedule, allowing Davis to be healthier and more involved in the games. This was an important reason why the Lakers were able to win the championship with a group of veterans put together temporarily.

The jump ball at center court begins. Neither side scores on their first two possessions, as the players are still finding their rhythm. Harden's three-point attempt misses; his three-point shooting touch is crucial to the outcome of the game.

The Lakers' first points came from LeBron James. He received the ball at the top of the key, and taking advantage of the Nets' unsteady footing, accelerated and drove head-on to the basket, shoving Jeff Green aside for a right-handed layup!

It didn't go in!

But Kuzma followed up, grabbed the offensive rebound, and scored on the putback, earning the first point of the game. This play was largely thanks to James; his drive tore apart the Nets' defense, drawing attention and leaving Kuzma unguarded, allowing him to easily grab the rebound and score.

The Nets still haven't scored. Their opening plays went smoothly, but Kyrie Irving's three-point attempt from the top of the key missed again, and James grabbed the rebound, initiating a fast break. Last season, James primarily played point guard, showcasing his passing and playmaking abilities. The wing defense and corner scoring duties at the small forward position were handled by players like Danny Green, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Rajon Rondo. This season, only Caldwell-Pope remains. Whether Wesley Matthews and Kyle Kuzma can step up and shoulder the responsibility remains to be seen.

After crossing half-court, the ball was passed to Marc Gasol, who received it at the left 45-degree angle and hit a three-pointer, giving the Lakers a 5-0 lead.

Li Wei sat on the sidelines observing, and he could clearly feel that the overall ability of NBA players was far superior to that of the G League. But he wasn't nervous; on the contrary, he was even more excited and couldn't wait to get on the court. Jeff Green and Bruce Brown's two defensive plays just now were rubbish; he certainly wouldn't have done that in his place.

But you can't blame either of them. Protecting the rim and rebounding aren't their responsibilities. It's like forcing Bruce Brown, at 1.93 meters tall, to play power forward – you're not Charles Barkley. And while Barkley may be short, he was still close to 300 pounds; Brown, at over 180 pounds, is a guard, and it's a miracle he can even hold his own under the basket.

James Harden sank a deep three-pointer from the right side, breaking the scoring deadlock with his individual skill after the tactical blunder failed.

With the first basket, and the players getting warmer and warmer as they ran, they gradually found their rhythm. Bruce Brown received a pass from Harden and made a floater. James then fast-breaked and drove straight to the basket, pushing past Jeff Green to score a layup. Kyrie Irving received the ball, spread out on the right side for a one-on-one attack, dribbled continuously, and then pulled up for a mid-range jump shot.

NBA tactics revolve around the players' exceptional individual abilities. The pace of modern games is extremely fast, which tests players' running ability and reaction speed. Every choice made on the court determines the direction of offense and defense.

LeBron James is known for his excellent decision-making, especially his smart decisions. The Nets' 3-2 zone defense showed signs of weakness and became somewhat disorganized. Harris mismatched James, and James immediately backed down and drove into the paint.

Harris's defense was even worse than Barea's. James easily bypassed him with a back turn, drove to the basket, and scored a layup, drawing a foul from Jeff Green who was helping on defense. Harden's attempt to block from behind was futile.

Unfortunately, he missed the free throw, resulting in a 2+0 play.

Then James assisted Kuzma on consecutive three-pointers from the corners. This is the biggest flaw in the 3-2 zone defense: the two corners are wide open.

As the Lakers gradually gained the upper hand, James Harden stepped up once again, using his individual skills to sink a long-range three-pointer after a crossover dribble. Harden is the first player in NBA history to make contested three-pointers his primary isolation weapon, and his output is astonishing.

Then Harden used a high screen to cut to the basket, shaking off Marc Gasol's defense, and scored with a left-handed layup. With just these two moves, plus a few points, Harden achieved the amazing feat of averaging 36 points per game in a single season with the Rockets, and averaging over 30 points per game for three consecutive seasons.

The Nets quickly caught up, and midway through the first quarter, both teams entered their rotation periods. Lakers head coach Vogel substituted James for Caruso, a common rotation strategy for veterans. They take him out halfway through the first quarter, bring him back in at the end, and finish the game. Dirk Nowitzki used to employ this rotation pattern frequently after he turned 33.

After James went to the bench to rest, the Lakers lost their offensive strength and playmaking ability. Apart from Matthews' dunk that scored two points, their offense quickly went cold.

In the three minutes that followed, the Nets seized an opportunity, with Harden assisting Jeff Green for a three-pointer to tie the game. After a successful defensive play, they launched a fast break, driving straight to the basket. Although they missed, Bruce Brown followed up with a putback dunk, giving the Nets the lead.

Vogel immediately called a timeout. The score was 24-22, with just over two minutes left in the first quarter. LeBron James, who had only rested briefly, was about to return to the court. With Anthony Davis absent, the offensive pressure fell entirely on him.

At this moment, he must be missing Rondo, who can shoulder many of the playmaking responsibilities. Marc Gasol, who was originally highly anticipated, did not show his former playmaking ability. He is too old, and the 2019 championship has exhausted all his spirit.

Meanwhile, on the Nets' bench, Nash discussed offensive and defensive issues with the players. To be honest, Nash's explanation was rather general, lacking detail. It wasn't that he didn't understand, but rather that he felt these things weren't worth discussing, or that many things on the court are impromptu and unpredictable.

Former star point guards often face similar issues when they become coaches.

Then, Nash signaled for DeAndre Jordan to come on, replacing Green. He then pointed at Levi and said, "You're in too, power forward. Protect the paint and the two corners, do a good job."

Li Wei was caught off guard; Nash had moved the clock in to the end of the first quarter, even though he was supposed to come on at the end of the first half. But Li Wei was prepared; he had been preparing for a very long time.

"I'm ready!" Li Wei shouted, jumping up from the stool, taking off his jacket and pants, and stepping onto the Staples Center floor with his teammates.

The matchup between him and James came much faster than he had anticipated. The Lakers had already identified the Nets' 3-2 zone defense weakness in the corner, so through a screen, James dribbled the ball to the area between the left 45-degree angle and the baseline.

Li Wei was in charge of this area.

On the sidelines, Scott Mitchell had already stood up, raising his camera to point at the two players. For James, this was just a routine offensive play. Who was guarding him? He didn't recognize him. A Chinese-American? Number 29? Why didn't he even have a name on his jersey?!
For Li Wei, however, it was his first time playing defense in the NBA, facing the undisputed best player in the league. After leading the Lakers to the championship in 2020, LeBron James's reputation was unparalleled, and he even seemed poised to surpass Jordan and become the greatest player of all time.

An unknown nobody vs. the league's number one player.

Li Wei didn't care about these empty titles. He maintained his classic relaxed defensive stance, extending his right hand to interfere while keeping his eyes fixed on James, anticipating his next move.

A shadowy figure appeared on James' body. Through the shadowy figure's movements, Li Wei could determine what James was going to do next.

Li Wei noticed that James's shadow suddenly leaped upwards, jumped into the air, and made a strange movement with his limbs.

"Holy crap! What a huge black crab!"

Li Wei was startled and shrank back.

At that moment, LeBron James had just jumped, and he wanted to put his arm around Li Wei's hand and use physical contact to draw a three-point shooting foul.

Unexpectedly, Li Wei pulled back in advance. His arm missed, his body didn't brush against anything, and he jumped in mid-air, thrashing about. Throwing or passing was both wrong, and he would have to travel as soon as he landed.

In desperation, James slammed the ball toward Li Wei, trying to bounce it out of bounds and retain possession.

Li Wei saw through everything and caught the ball steadily. James landed, and the two looked at each other deeply; time seemed to stand still at that moment.

"Thank you," Li Wei said, passing the ball to Harden, and the Nets launched a counterattack. Harden dribbled straight to the basket, pushed past the defender, and scored a layup!
Before James had even crossed half-court, he thought, "What the hell just happened?"

(End of this chapter)