Basketball Terminal

Chapter 52 Extreme
The Nets' game against the Clippers on the 21st will be their final game of this Western Conference tour. After the game, the team will return to Brooklyn for rest. Levi participated in his first full practice this morning, with Nash assigning him the center position, a role similar to Bruce Brown's.

After completing the Harden trade, the Nets experimented with various starting lineups, with the 1.93-meter-tall guard-turned-center Brown appearing at center. He battled against taller players on defense and used his agility and quick cuts to attack the basket on offense.

He is a dagger, unable to penetrate heavy armor, but with the three giants drawing the defense and creating space, his small size and agility allow him to attack the opponent's weak points.

In the previous game against the Lakers, the teammate Li Wei observed the most was Bruce Brown. He returned from a nightclub at four in the morning, slept for a while, and after waking up, apart from going to the gym to wake up, he spent the rest of his time watching game film. He reviewed his own performance, analyzed the Nets' tactics, and identified Brown as a role model.

Brown is shorter than Levi, and if he can integrate into the system on offense, Levi believes he can do the same.

The Nets' tactics aren't complicated. When you have superstars like Harden and Irving, overly complex tactics become a shackle that stifles their creativity. With Harden, a simple pick-and-roll can create multiple opportunities. Harden uses his imagination to pass the ball to the player with the best chance. His teammates' job is to be in the right position, receive the ball, and put it in the basket.

Harden passes the most and the best to players cutting to the basket. With the Rockets, he set up Capela; with the Nets, he frequently completed alley-oops with DeAndre Jordan. After penetrating the paint, Harden possesses exceptional finishing ability, and combined with his strong arms, he forces defenders to choose between two poisons.

When running pick-and-rolls with Harden, the screener doesn't need to set a solid screen. A simple screen is enough for Harden to use his strength to keep the defender behind him, forcing the opposing big man to come out and help. The screener can then easily cut to the basket and attack the unguarded rim. This is Harden's advantage; he doesn't require a high-quality screen.

When reviewing the footage, Li Wei noticed that players like DeAndre Jordan would often just make a perfunctory pick-and-roll before turning and driving to the basket. Harden, on the other hand, relied more on his strength and dribbling rhythm to shake off defenders, forcing Harrell and Gasol to come out and allowing Jordan to comfortably drive to the basket for an alley-oop.

Compared to DeAndre Jordan's perfunctory approach, rushing off to play with the flight attendants, Levi's pick-and-rolls in games and practice were much more solid. This guy was so tough that Bruce Brown complained after being bumped a few times: "Hey man! Why does it hurt so much when you bump into people? Now I'm scared when I see you setting a screen, I want to go around you."

"Just walk around it, that's hard qigong."

"Shit, Chinese Kung Fu?"

Harden laughed and said, "You don't need to screen so seriously. Screening too seriously will affect your speed when you drive. Just make a token effort, walk inside, and I'll feed you the ball." After partying at the club yesterday, Harden seemed to be doing fine. Yesterday, he brought a black woman with a huge butt back to the hotel, and who knows how many times she stirred things up.

Li Wei nodded; he understood Harden's ability to draw defenders and pass the ball. However, Li Wei still added, "In crucial games, and the playoffs, you'll need my screens."

Harden glanced at Li Wei, his appreciation for him growing even stronger. He recalled his time with the Houston Rockets, playing alongside Dwight Howard. In the regular season, the two complemented each other perfectly, making Houston a "Lob City." But in the playoffs, the increased defensive pressure meant fewer opportunities for easy inside-outside connections.

At that time, what Harden needed most was solid screens from Howard to relieve the defensive pressure he faced. But Howard refused, using feints and eagerness to get inside and demand the ball, unwilling to linger at the perimeter. This led to Harden's declining stats and significantly reduced performance in the playoffs. The main reason, of course, was Harden's own lack of ability; he relied too heavily on drawing fouls and free throws early in the season, which failed him in the playoffs. However, Howard's lack of cooperation also caused the Rockets to lose some games they could have won. Playoff victories often hinge on the smallest margins; one or two well-executed offensive plays can drastically alter the outcome.

Harden's playful nature has never changed; he can't live without nightclubs—their place to release stress, his Jerusalem. But at 31, he craves a championship more than ever before. Otherwise, he wouldn't have orchestrated that clumsy drama of trading him from the Rockets to the Nets, accepting the criticism and the burning of his jersey as long as he gets that damn championship. Of the so-called Big Three, Irving and Durant both have rings, while Harden is empty-handed; he craves it more than anyone else.

Li Wei's words made Harden realize that this guy wasn't just a rookie who wanted to get a contract and pad his stats; he had his own ideas. No wonder he dared to express his thoughts in the locker room. Ideas aren't about right or wrong, but about whether you have your own attitude. People with attitudes and convictions are always more likely to be appreciated.

During training, Harden and Li Wei have been playing together more frequently. Working with Harden allows Li Wei to get more passes and more stats. Similarly, Harden needs a supporter on the Nets; he's realized that the team's core trio isn't him, Irving, and Durant, but rather DeAndre Jordan and his two teammates, with Harden being a later addition. Harden needs someone he truly belongs with, and Li Wei seems quite reliable at the moment.

On the sidelines, Steve Nash was also observing Levi. He had a meeting with Marks, D'Antoni, and others yesterday, which led to some arguments. D'Antoni subtly pointed out that Nash needed to clarify his role, not to switch between being a coach and a player. Marks, however, posed a crucial question: "Since you picked Levi because of his toughness, why did you make him apologize during the game? You've confused Steve."

This question highlights Nash's current state of confusion; he still hasn't found his place as a coach. Perhaps the imprint of his successful playing career is too deep, making it difficult for him to shake off the profound marks that era left on his personality. Sometimes he doesn't even understand what he's doing, what the right thing to do is, or how to please everyone—which is much harder than playing basketball. He can't find that opportunity to deliver the decisive pass because the ball isn't even in his hands.

"What do you think of the chemistry between James Harden and Victor?" D'Antoni's voice was hoarse. Seeing his disciple staring blankly into space, he knew the guy was confused again, so he came over to talk to him. Nash learned the old coach's stubbornness, but not his determination. D'Antoni had repeatedly encountered setbacks in adhering to his coaching philosophy, until he met a talented player with the Suns and was able to realize his ambitions.

In fact, stubbornness and determination are two sides of the same coin; the key is how you understand yourself.

"Not bad. Victor's screens were of high quality. He was surprisingly tough, unlike any Asian player."

"Times are changing. I've been listening to China so much these past two years that my ears are practically calloused."

"How do you think he compares to Jamie Lin?"

"Jamie? They're completely different types of players, even different types of people. Have you heard what's going on with Disney?"

"what news?"

"Regarding the Asian discrimination incident, after Victor punched Jordan Bell, the league also began investigating Jamie for the discrimination. The player was identified, but it wasn't revealed. Jamie chose to forgive him, had a meal with him privately, and that was the end of it."

"He's a Christian, so it must be God who made him forgive."

"Yes, it's his personal choice and belief, there's nothing to say about that. But you know, this is the NBA, professional basketball! People will look down on him if he does this. That year in Knicks, some people were unhappy with him. Actually, with his performance, he could have fought for his place, made New York pay more attention to him, and made me pay more attention to him, and give him a contract sooner. But he always said that everything was God's arrangement, and in the end, God arranged for him to go to Houston because the Rockets offered him a poison pill contract."

"I know, I shouldn't have made Viktor apologize. I just had a brain fart."

"No, it has nothing to do with you. Whether or not you apologize is not the point, Steve. Victor is not a follower; he has his own ideas and opinions."

"Are you implying that I lack my own opinions?"

"Sometimes it's fucking difficult to communicate with you."

"Just say what you have to say, Mike."

“I only have one thing to say: you need to be a real coach, not try to play the role of a coach, OK?” Nash fell into thought.

D'Antoni deeply felt the vast difference between coaching player Nash and assisting coach Nash. With player Nash, you didn't need to say anything; he understood, even better than you. But with assistant coach Nash, it seemed like nothing you said made much difference, and you didn't know if he understood or not.

Fortunately, despite this haphazard approach, the Nets relied on individual player abilities to win, and the coaching staff's tactical system was well-suited to the players' strengths. In this era of offense-driven games where defense is less important, firepower reigns supreme. Let Nash remain chaotic; hopefully, he can gradually regain his composure over the season and find his footing in his coaching role.

Of course, D'Antoni is not a good role model; as a head coach, he has significant flaws. His integration and development of player resources is exceptional, especially his use of the point guard position, which has a Midas touch. However, his system is monotonous, lacks flexibility, and relies on a single, overused method. In areas that showcase true skill, such as season planning, individualized instruction, and in-game tactical adjustments, he falls significantly short compared to true masters. If D'Antoni were a true master, Nash wouldn't be without a championship ring. Nash wouldn't be in such a state of confusion now; he could simply follow his mentor's lead. It's precisely because his mentor wasn't quite up to par, and he couldn't learn from him, that he tried to incorporate more of his own ideas, leading to his current situation.

After the morning practice, lunch, and rest, the Nets players returned to the Staples Center around 3 or 4 p.m. for warm-up exercises. The arena floor had been replaced with a Clippers-themed display, and the Lakers championship banners and retired jerseys that were hanging there were covered by huge Clippers posters to prevent them from interfering with the Clippers' performance.

Compared to the Lakers, the Clippers, their crosstown rivals, have a truly impoverished history. Long managed by Donald Sterling, arguably the most unpredictable owner in NBA history, the Clippers' best playoff result was only the Western Conference semifinals. For a time, they even displayed their Pacific Division first-place finish in the regular season banner in their arena, attempting to rival the Lakers. This was roughly equivalent to the difference between the top scorer in a city's mock exam and the top scorer in the province's college entrance exam, and the Clippers were quite pleased with themselves.

Sterling's racist recordings were leaked, leading to a strike by the team's Black players. The league forced him to sell the team, which was eventually acquired by Microsoft mogul Steve Ballmer for a high price. The Clippers' situation gradually improved, with a steady stream of big-name stars joining the team. However, in the playoffs, they were still plagued by Sterling's curse, struggling to advance beyond the semifinals.

Last season in the Disney bubble, the Clippers led 3-1 in the series, seemingly securing victory, but were miraculously overturned by the Nuggets, losing three consecutive games and suffering a 3-4 defeat and elimination. This was the second time the Clippers had suffered such a dramatic comeback, following their 3-1 series lead over the Rockets in the 2015 playoffs.

This wasn't the second time Doc Rivers, then head coach of the Clippers, had done this; it was his third, including one earlier with the Magic. This latest defeat, adding another chapter to his list of legendary comebacks, cost him his job.

Perhaps the Clippers were afraid of being reversed, so in the summer they brought in Tyronn Lue, who had led the Cavaliers to a stunning comeback from a 1-3 deficit in the Finals, hoping to find a coach with a tough track record to change the team's fortunes.

In the summer of 2019, the Clippers acquired two of the league's most popular small forwards, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, through signings and trades. Although they were defeated by the Nuggets in the 20 bubble tournament, they were still considered promising, as both players were still young and at the prime of their careers.

Just as the Nets traded Allen to acquire Harden, the Clippers traded away a talented young player like Alexander to acquire Paul George. Faced with a choice between the present and the future, the Clippers, desperate to prove themselves, unhesitatingly chose the present.

The match started on time, and the stadium was still empty, with only players, coaches, and staff present, and a few reporters broadcasting from a designated area. Thanks to the pandemic prevention policies, Li Wei was not bothered by reporters before the match. After the first game, the number of topics about him suddenly increased, but Li Wei didn't want to pay attention to them. It wasn't time yet; he needed to focus on the game.

Before the game, Scott Mitchell informed Levi that he would resign upon returning to Brooklyn and that he needed a NetsDaily ID to attend the game. Currently, there is still no information about Levi online; Levi controls his social media accounts and has not released any information. Levi's classmates and teammates, who know very little about his sudden entry into the NBA, have all expressed surprise.

Kevin Durant remains absent from the Nets' lineup, which is the same as the previous game. The Clippers, playing at home, have a full roster: George, Leonard, Batum, Beverley, and Ibaka. Like the Nets, the Clippers are also involved in some personal relationships. Ibaka won a championship with Leonard in 19, after which Leonard chose to return to his hometown of Los Angeles, joining the Clippers and incidentally tricking the Lakers.

After their playoff loss in 20, the Clippers' interior defense was weak, so Leonard actively recruited Ibaka to help him. The two had a good relationship, and after a quick text and phone call, Ibaka agreed. The Clippers' management had no objections and signed him. As for whether he was a good fit, the management didn't give it much thought.

Serge Ibaka is only 31 years old, not very old, but playing through injuries and taking painkillers back then caused his athleticism to decline, with a drop in jumping ability and explosiveness. His once league-leading shot-blocking ability has deteriorated significantly, from an average of 3.7 blocks per game at his peak to less than 1 per game.

At the start, both teams missed their first few shots. The Nets, as always, used a 3-2 zone defense, with Harden pulled to the power forward position, controlling the paint and baseline area on the right side, which made the Clippers somewhat uncomfortable at the beginning. The Clippers, on the other hand, used a one-on-four zone strategy, with Beverley closely guarding Harden on the perimeter, while the other four players formed a pseudo-zone defense inside the three-point line.

It's described as pseudo-zone defense because, apart from Ibaka standing still near the three-second zone to protect the rim, the other three players primarily focused on man-to-man defense, while also covering the zone. Since the league allowed zone defense in the 2001-2002 season, zone defense has been integrated into every team's defensive strategy.

After a period of probing, Kyrie Irving was the first to act, dribbling the ball on the right side and isolating himself against Batum. Facing the tall and long-armed Frenchman, Irving used a series of crossovers to create space, then hit a mid-range pull-up jumper to score the first point.

After scoring, Irving thought to himself, "Your defensive footwork is far worse than Victor's; that guy is terrifying."

After Irving scored, Leonard immediately responded with a three-pointer from the left 45-degree angle. This robotic small forward remained expressionless after making the basket. A few possessions later, he hit another three-pointer from the top of the arc on a fast break. Jeff Green couldn't defend James one-on-one in the last game, and he couldn't defend Leonard in this one either.

However, Green's ability to hit three-pointers on offense is his greatest contribution.

Compared to the Lakers, the Clippers were significantly more aggressive on defense. Their one-on-four guard strategy was primarily aimed at countering Harden's playmaking ability on offense. Harden's former teammate, Beverley, a scoring guard with the Rockets, now wears a different colored jersey and becomes a vicious dog tearing into Harden.

From the start of the game, Beverley kept a close eye on Harden, never leaving his side. When Harden didn't have the ball, Beverley followed him. When Harden had the ball, Beverley would engage in close-quarters combat, using various dirty tricks to interfere, and even hurling insults, which gradually irritated Harden, who eventually shoved Beverley away while advancing the ball.

Harris missed his shot, and the Clippers launched a counterattack. George was mismatched against Irving, attempting a post-up. However, despite his small stature, Irving is actually a very tough defender, quick to steal the ball from behind.

Harden stole the ball and launched a fast break, but Beverley hit Harden in the chest with a clothesline pole, blocking the Nets' fast break. Harden finally got angry, turned around and shoved Beverley away, and the two started arguing near midcourt. Referees and teammates from both sides came over and separated the two. Ibaka separated his former teammate and current teammate, but Beverley was still relentless, trash-talking Harden.

"You coward, I only touched you, and you're already pretending again, aren't you?"

"You've been faking it all along. All those muscles are just for show, aren't they?"

"You always look hurt; I know you're afraid of pain!"

After switching teams, Beverley showed no mercy to Harden, completely disregarding their past friendship with him on the Rockets. However, on the court, it's normal for players to be aggressive towards each other while playing for their respective teams.

The referee gave Beverley a technical foul, but he didn't let up on his defense and tenacious defense against Harden; that was his task tonight. Harden immediately responded with a layup off the backboard after a drive.

Both sides gradually got into the game, and their offenses revolved around their two key perimeter players. The pace of the game was fast, with a strong emphasis on offensive and defensive transitions and frequent switching. Players at each position were likely to be matched up against each other.

With the score at 10-12, Paul George was matched up against Harden on a fast break. Harden aggressively contested the ball, and George, protecting the ball, bumped into Harden from the side. The referee called a foul on Harden. Harden complained to the referee, "He bumped into me, how did I commit a foul?"

"You touched him first, violating his position, that's a defensive foul."

Harden got frustrated with the Clippers' defense. He was pushed down by Ibaka while driving to the basket, and Irving did the same, but the referees didn't react. Now, if I touch someone, I'm still committing a foul. The referees were clearly giving the Clippers more leeway, allowing Clippers players to attack Harden with impunity.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Kevin Durant was eating gummy candies—yes, he was eating soft candies—without even wearing a mask. Nash wanted to say something, but then felt there was nothing to say; the referees didn't seem to have made a wrong call. Suddenly, an idea struck him. He walked to the scorer's table and requested a substitution, then said to Levi, "Victor, get ready to go in. You know what to do?"

Li Wei, who had been watching everything from the sidelines, jumped up and said, "I know, go on the field and run them over!"

Nash quickly said, "No, no, no, you're going too far. There's no need to be so extreme. Give James Harden some protection, it's just... well... you, you, you decide what to do."

Nash's heart pounded. This was the first time in his life he had given such an order and made such a decision. It was like a good child who never did anything wrong stealing money from his parents for the first time to buy something he liked at the town store. He felt a little excited and thrilled.

(End of this chapter)