Basketball Terminal

Chapter 50 Apology
A brief commotion ensued as Lakers players rushed to check on James, who had been hit hard. Nets players helped Li Wei up from the ground, and Li Wei grasped Harden's hand; the guy's arms were incredibly thick and strong, unlike anything a typical guard could have.

Harden grinned, his white teeth gleaming, and said, "Bro, you're a genius. The first person to smash LeBron's head."

"I really didn't mean to, I jumped too early."

"Your best dunk of the career."

"I still have many opportunities to be the best player this season."

After saying that, Harden covered his mouth and chuckled, while Li Wei tried to appear serious and innocent as he ran to check on James. The referee was asking James how he was feeling, whether he was dizzy, and if so, it might trigger the league's concussion protocol, requiring him to undergo a series of tests before returning to the court.

Starting with the 2011-2012 season, the league introduced this agreement rule to protect player health. If James suffers a concussion, he will at least miss this game, and possibly more, which would be very detrimental to the Lakers.

With the team doctor's help, James got up and took a few steps, rotated his shoulders, shook his head, and moved his neck. It wasn't a big problem; he didn't need to go back to the locker room. He's really in good health.

Although Li Wei did not do it intentionally, the referee still gave him a regular technical foul after reviewing the video replay. After all, hitting someone's head with a ball is a non-basketball action that is dangerous and requires a warning.

The Lakers made their technical foul free throw, and then time expired, ending the first half with the Nets leading the Lakers by a large margin. Li Wei recorded 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block, and 1 kill – quite impressive stats, especially for a player on a 10-day contract making his debut.

As Scott Mitchell left the players' tunnel, he waved and gave Levi a thumbs-up, indicating a perfect first half performance. Mitchell breathed a sigh of relief; with Levi's performance tonight, his story was definitely going to be interesting.

Five points and four rebounds isn't really a breakout performance. Most fans won't be watching your defense. Experts see the details, while laymen just watch the spectacle. In the NBA, true overnight success comes from scoring bursts. If it were accompanied by a performance like Jeremy Lin's game-winning shot against the Raptors, it would be even better.

But Levi took a different approach. Scott Mitchell looked at the photos on his camera and couldn't help but laugh. Levi defended James' first shot; one ducked back, the other flailing about in the air—one still, one in motion. Levi held the basketball, gazing deeply into James' eyes. Levi took off from under the basket for a dunk, smashing it down on James' head.

Open social media and live streaming platforms, and discussions about this game have already topped the trending charts. The live streams are full of praise for the Nets' powerful offense and curiosity about Li Wei. The curiosity about Li Wei is mainly due to his "interaction" with James, rather than his defense.

【In your Face, became In your Head! 】

He bears some responsibility for LeBron's hair loss.

I can only give this dunk a 9 out of 10, because you dunked on my brother – Dwyane Wade.

Dude, are LeBron James and Dwyane Wade really brothers?

[Wade would give it a 9 out of 10 on the surface, but secretly give it a 100 out of 100]

Doesn't anyone think this guy's defense is good? But I don't even know his name because there's no name on his jersey.

Amidst the numerous sarcastic comments and bullet screen messages, occasionally a couple of praises for Li Wei's defense were interspersed. Hosts on various live streaming platforms and TV programs also joked about this, but none of them had detailed information about Li Wei, only a very brief resume, and they couldn't find any videos of Li Wei's past matches.

Scott Mitchell received a call from the editor-in-chief of NetsDaily, asking if he had more detailed information about Levi or match clips. Levi's matches could be found online, but they were all unedited and couldn't be broadcast on television. The television station then called NetsDaily's editorial department.

"Yes, I have it, I also have the most detailed reports about him... OK, I'll send them to your email. I also have firsthand photos from the game, I'll send those too. But could I ask for reimbursement for my airfare and accommodation for this business trip? Oh, what do you mean 'consider it'? I want a definite answer! I've had my eye on him for a long time, I was following him during his tryouts! I..."

The editor-in-chief issued an ultimatum, demanding that Scott Mitchell immediately send a package of Levi's related content to the company email address, or he might lose his job. Regarding reimbursement, they only said they would consider it, because this was Scott Mitchell's personal action, and the website wouldn't cover his expenses just because he collected valuable news and photos.

"The necessary information and content will always be available; there is no true exclusivity in the internet age." This was the last thing the editor-in-chief said to Mitchell, meaning he was telling Mitchell not to think about making a name for himself by doing exclusive reports. Information is so advanced now, and news spreads everywhere. If you don't do it, plenty of others will. Pick up your phone and you have a camera.

After hanging up the phone, Scott Mitchell plummeted from excitement to despair, questioning whether the path he had chosen was worthwhile. After this incident, Levi would no longer be an unknown nobody; many people would surely dig into his story, and others could write and film the same stories and videos he had created.

The so-called exclusivity is not so exclusive in this era of information overload. Others can quickly obtain copies, plagiarize, and freely forward and edit videos. Readers and viewers will not care who released the report or news; they will simply read it and then destroy it.

Meanwhile, an argument was taking place in the Nets' locker room.

With a large lead in the first half, Li Wei dominated James, and the team atmosphere was cheerful. Li Wei has already earned the recognition of his teammates; they are all experts and could tell his defensive abilities were good long ago, and Li Wei's defensive skills can only be described as amazing. The engine performance is average, but the aerodynamic layout and fire control system are undoubtedly top-notch.

Steve Nash specifically praised Levi's performance in the first half, saying his defense was exactly what the team needed and expressing satisfaction with the team's first-half performance. That would have been a perfect ending; a few more tactical adjustments and a well-executed second half would have been all it took to win the game.

However, after briefly arranging the tactical rotations, Nash walked up to Viktor and said to him in a suggestive tone, "Viktor, after the second half starts, find an opportunity to apologize to LeBron. That hit was really hard, it wasn't good."

Li Wei shook his head and said, "The referee has already called a foul on me, so there's no need for me to apologize anymore."

At halftime, Nash specifically sought out James to inquire about his condition. James said it was nothing serious, then asked Nash if James had been sent specifically to target him. Nash replied that James was a tough player, but not specifically to mess with him. James said he needed an apology, and Nash smiled but said nothing.

On the way back to the locker room, Nash thought that perhaps Li Wei should apologize to show his class, after all, that was LeBron James, the most powerful player in the league, which would be good for Li Wei's career development.

But Li Wei bluntly rejected Nash's "good intentions," which annoyed Nash. He said with a stern face, "If you don't apologize now, the media and fans will keep harassing you, questioning you, and labeling you after the game. You still have to survive in this league for a long time, so sometimes you have to have some class."

Li Wei shrugged and said, "I don't care. The referee has already called a foul on me, and I'm not going to apologize during the game."

Nash hadn't expected his well-intentioned advice to be publicly refuted by Levi. Couldn't he at least offer a verbal agreement? Now, the locker room's attention was focused on their argument, and Nash was in a dilemma: should he continue arguing to uphold the coach's authority, or just let it go?
Seeing the atmosphere was tense, D'Antoni came over to smooth things over. He said to Levi, "Kid, you played well for half the game, but you have a long way to go. Steve is giving you advice because he thinks highly of you. You don't have to accept it, but... it's out of good intentions. You have to understand that."

He then said to Nash, "Steve, we're still in the game. Can't we talk about these things after the game? There's plenty of time after the game. Our focus should still be on beating our opponent. Okay, okay, the game is about to start. Alright, everyone get ready to go on the court."

The brief argument ended there. Throughout the entire process, Kevin Durant, as the team's leader, remained silent, simply observing the spectacle. Kyrie Irving approached Li Wei and said, "Maybe you should apologize," having apologized himself and believing others should as well. Only James Harden showed his support for Li Wei through his eyes and gestures.

Perhaps Nash meant well. Human relationships are inherent in all walks of life; where there are people, there is a social hierarchy. Li Wei's social standing is low; he offended a powerful figure, and an apology might win him favor, at least preventing him from being smeared by the media and fans.

Li Wei had spent many years in professional leagues. He had humbled himself, begged others, and even lowered his head in his pursuit of a contract and playing time. But in the end, he realized that one must rely on oneself; it's better to rely on others than on oneself. If you have value, opportunities will come to you. Moreover, a technical foul resulting in a $2000 fine after a game is a heavy penalty for Li Wei.

This argument gave Li Wei a glimpse into the deep-seated problems within the Nets. Nash seemed to have misunderstood his role: head coach, not player. As a player, you can act as a peacemaker; if players have conflicts, you, as the senior coach, can mediate and help them become friends—that's perfectly fine.

But during a game, the coach must always stand on the side of the players, otherwise the players will become disheartened.

Team leader Kevin Durant remained silent and indifferent when the coach and his teammates clashed, showing no leadership qualities whatsoever. You either side with the head coach to uphold his authority or with your teammates to unite the team. Simply watching the drama unfold without comment makes the players think he's not a leader capable of resolving conflicts.

As for Irving and Harden, they each have their own ideas and their values ​​are obviously different.

Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant joined the Nets first, and then DeAndre Jordan joined them, forming the main framework of the Nets. The three of them were the frame.

Harden is a latecomer. Externally, they are the Big Three, but internally, Harden is not part of the Big Three; DeAndre Jordan is.

DeAndre Jordan, relying on his status and position, didn't put in much effort during games, just padding his stats, which caused resentment from everyone around him. However, as long as the team was winning, no one asked or said anything.

Harden has been used at full capacity and made the biggest impact in just a few games. Given Durant's injury and Irving's injury-prone nature, the burden on Harden's shoulders will be heavy in the upcoming games.

If this continues, those who don't work will have a voice, while those who do work will not be respected. The more capable they are, the more work they will get, and in the end, they will definitely be filled with resentment. Almost every organization has this problem: those with connections occupy positions without doing anything, while hardworking oxen are ignored.

Then there are the assistant coaches. The Nets have eight assistant coaches, but it's not a case of more people, more people, more scattered. Each assistant coach has their own ideas, but none of them can gain the head coach's complete approval. The assistant coaches on the Nets are more like consultants than the coach's right-hand men. Nash, lacking experience, might not be able to effectively utilize even two arms, let alone eight.

In just a day and a half, Li Wei had already realized that the Nets were like a pressure cooker, only being held back by their strong roster and decent record. Once they lost a game, or failed in the season, this pressure cooker would definitely explode.

Of course, Li Wei doesn't care. The Nets are his springboard to the NBA; as long as they don't blow him up, that's fine. And as things stand, that's not going to happen.

The professional teams Li Wei once played for were all rife with internal struggles no less intense than the Nets. As the saying goes, "a small temple has many demons, and a shallow pond has many turtles," but for Li Wei, these were all trivial matters.

As for the other 29 NBA teams, each has its own set of problems. They need to quickly adjust their mindset and focus on the second half. Many problems may exist, but as long as they win on the court, none of them will matter.

After the start of the second half, the Nets continued their three-point barrage, with Joe Harris and Harden hitting consecutive three-pointers to maintain their lead. However, midway through the third quarter, LeBron James began to exert his influence, first using a fast break to attack the basket, pushing past Jeff Green for a layup.

Then, James hit a fadeaway jumper from the left corner and followed it up with a fast break on the right, capitalizing on Jeff Green's positioning error in the zone defense to receive the ball, drive to the basket, and dunk, scoring 6 consecutive points. James completely broke through Jeff Green's one-on-one defense; he's almost as old as James and naturally couldn't withstand the onslaught.

The score was quickly closed, and the Lakers' deficit was reduced to 9 points, single digits. Nash called a timeout, then pointed at Levi and said, "Get ready to go in."

Although the two had just argued, Nash wasn't petty and didn't use his head coaching authority to make things difficult for Levi by not letting him play. Otherwise, logically speaking, it would be perfectly normal to not let a player on a 10-day contract play in crucial moments of the second half.

Li Wei didn't waste any words. He knew his task and took off his coat, ready to make his entrance.

The timeout ended, and James looked around and saw that number 29 was back on the court! Nash, that liar, still saying it wasn't targeting me? If it wasn't targeting me, why did you put this guy on at the end of the first two quarters? If it wasn't targeting me, I just had a run, and you put him on the court?

Who exactly is this guy? Seeing Li Wei, James felt his head spinning. That move in the first half was really brutal; he didn't believe Li Wei hadn't done it on purpose. After entering the game, Li Wei was matched up against James again. Inbounding the ball, Li Wei set a perfect screen for Harden, clearing the defense, and Harden's three-pointer went in!

Compared to DeAndre Jordan and Draymond Green, Levi's screens were much more solid. Jordan would eagerly slip inside to receive the ball and attack even before the screen was properly set. Green, on the other hand, wasn't physically strong enough and would easily be pushed past him with a bump.

Li Wei's screens were incredibly firm, giving Harden plenty of space to shoot.

Then, on defense, Li Wei closely guarded James. He successfully anticipated the pass to James, tipped the ball away, and caused James to have difficulty receiving the ball, effectively ruining half of the play. James then attempted a three-pointer after adjusting his dribble on the perimeter, but Li Wei timed his move perfectly and blocked the shot!
Li Wei observed that James's movement shadows were much easier to predict than those of Irving and Durant. The shadows were less varied and smaller in amplitude, and unlike Irving's, they didn't produce blurry afterimages, making them more difficult to judge. James's shadows were clear and distinct, making them relatively easy to identify.

After blocking James' three-point attempt and gaining possession, Li Wei passed the ball to Irving, who dribbled down the fast break and drove to the basket for a layup. With a screen and a block, Li Wei quickly helped the Nets rebuild a double-digit lead.

James hadn't expected the shot to be blocked. He cursed under his breath, wondering where this kid had come from. Without sufficient information and analysis, James becomes a bit lacking in confidence. He's a skilled strategist in games, with excellent court vision, and he remembers his teammates' and opponents' shooting hot zones, defensive habits, and so on.

But Levi's data was blank, so he couldn't make an effective analysis. Besides, this guy's defensive anticipation was amazing, and he had already suffered several times against him. James thought of Kawhi Leonard, but even that guy's defense wasn't necessarily that anticipatory.

The Lakers' offense stalled again, and their comeback attempt came to an abrupt halt. With Irving and Green hitting consecutive shots, the point difference returned to 16 points, putting them in the safe zone.

Li Wei not only plays defense, but also strives to integrate into the team's offense. In another pick-and-roll play with Harden, a 45-degree screen and a cut to the basket, Li Wei receives the pass from Harden and drives deep into the paint!

James came to help defend again, but this time he didn't dare to meet him head-on. Instead, he came from the side to block him. Li Wei's cutting route was off the baseline, and James pressed forward, squeezing Li Wei towards the baseline and leaving him no space to dribble.

With his dribbling skills and explosiveness, Li Wei definitely couldn't get past him, but he didn't care about anything else. He held the ball with both hands and delivered a powerful elbow strike! The elbow hit James in the chest, pushing him away, and he slowly made the layup.

But the referee blew the whistle, and it was clear that Li Wei had committed an elbow foul. James fell to the ground, clutching his chest with one hand and his face with the other in pain. That elbow hurt so much! Little did he know that it was an elbow strike imbued with domineering power, incredibly strong.

This time, Li Wei truly felt bad. He came over and patted James on the shoulder, saying, "I'm so sorry, my terrible move hurt you. I apologize." James opened his fingers covering his face, glanced at Li Wei, and looked genuinely sincere. But in his heart, he thought, "This must have been Nash's doing! I made him apologize, and you made him elbow me first before apologizing?" The reputation of Nash as a liar was firmly established in James's mind.

After reviewing the video replay, the referee issued Li Wei another technical foul, resulting in his ejection from the game. Li Wei did not dispute this, acknowledging that he had indeed elbowed Li Wei. After paying tribute to the arena's owner, Li Wei left the court with honor.

As Nash passed the bench, he grabbed Levi and asked, "What are you doing? You ejected yourself!" Levi replied, "You asked me to apologize, so I'm giving myself a chance to apologize."

Watching Li Wei's departing figure, Nash thought to himself, "That guy is a real genius."

(End of this chapter)