Basketball Terminal

Chapter 63 Overlord
Max felt conflicted seeing Levi leave the court to rest with two players. A week earlier, he had rushed to Los Angeles, signed Levi to a 10-day contract at the hotel, and simultaneously waived Robertson. He acknowledged Levi's ability, but his move was primarily to support Nash. It was Nash who was anxious and urged him to come quickly to sign players; otherwise, according to normal procedures, tonight would have been Levi's first game.

Levi's performance was indeed satisfactory, but in the crucial third game, Max wanted to hold back. The luxury tax was one reason, and the management team, like a cultural management group, feared the boss's excessive influence. Another reason was that Max wanted to make a splash in the buyout market and secure some more impactful signings.

Currently, Marks has his eye on Blake Griffin. The former number one draft pick and superstar reached a buyout agreement with the Pistons on February 15th. Griffin's agent is currently looking for a new job for him, and the Nets are very interested in him.

Then there's LaMarcus Aldridge of the Spurs. This season, Aldridge has only played 18 games for the Spurs, missing consecutive games since February. According to reliable sources, Aldridge's time with the Spurs may be coming to an end. The Spurs are about to rebuild, and Aldridge hopes to join a championship-contending team to fulfill his dream of winning a title.

Both of them are renowned star players in the league, and even though they are in the twilight of their careers, they still possess considerable influence. They could easily serve as role players, supporting the Big Three. Signing them would be a huge boost to the team's ticket sales and viewership.

Moreover, everyone is on the same side. These established stars and veterans have worked in the industry for over a decade and are naturally considered insiders. The Nets are a team with many nepotistic connections, and since they chose to build a Big Three and pursue a star-studded approach, Marks naturally wants to see it through to the end, making the Nets incredibly star-studded and striving for a championship.

While historically, teams like this rarely end well, the Nets themselves are a prime example from years ago. They assembled a "Big Four" of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Joe Johnson, and Deron Williams, along with well-known role players like Jason Terry, Reggie Evans, and Blatche, only to end up in a mess, failing to even reach the conference finals.

The Celtics are still reaping the benefits of that trade with the Celtics. They drafted Jaylen Brown in 2016, got the number one pick in 2017, and traded with the 76ers to select Jayson Tatum with the third pick. With the two young stars as the core, the Celtics have made steady progress in their rebuilding process.

The Nets are following the same old path, though they've learned some lessons. Since their previous Big Three were too old and past their prime, this time they've chosen a Big Three in their early 30s, still in their best form. Then they supplement them with veteran stars – a classic NBA team-building strategy. They create a Big Three framework, attract past-their-prime stars, win a championship, and then replace them with a new batch, maintaining competitiveness for four or five years.

The arrival of Levi and Nash's "betrayal" disrupted Marks' rhythm. Seeing Levi's performance in the first half, Marks realized that a guaranteed contract was inevitable, and further hesitation would be unprofessional. He somewhat regretted not signing Levi to a two-way contract instead of a 10-day contract; a two-way contract allows for 50 regular-season games, giving the team ample time to negotiate.

The Rockets' Morey played a similar role, slowly grinding down Daniel House with a two-way contract until just before the playoffs, finally securing a guaranteed deal and keeping his total salary below the luxury tax threshold. In terms of cunning and tactical maneuvering, Marks is far inferior to Morey.

After Li Wei left the court, the Nets maintained their lead until the end of the first half, 76-66, a 10-point advantage. Both teams had a high scoring rate. Back in the locker room, Li Wei got a chance to rest, having played 15 minutes in the first half, close to his halftime physical limit.

Harden came over and bumped fists with Li Wei, indicating that he had performed well in the first half. Li Wei nodded, and the two cooperated well. The other players' attitudes were different, which was intriguing. Durant and Irving were no different, while Harris, Jordan, and others took the initiative to get close to Li Wei. However, the short-term contract and minimum salary players did not show the same enthusiasm that Li Wei had shown to newcomers when he first joined the team.

Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are the core of the team, and no one can threaten their position within the team, at least not for now. Harris and DeAndre Jordan have guaranteed long-term contracts, and by halftime they knew that Li Wei would be their teammate for the rest of the season, so it's normal for them to get closer.

Other players on minimum contracts and short-term contracts sympathized with each other and supported each other when Levi first arrived. But once you leave that group, you're no longer on the same level, and you even become competitors eliminating each other. This game wasn't just Levi's third short-term contract game; Shumpert and Noah Vonleh were also on the verge of being cut or having their contracts renewed.

If Li Wei stays, they'll most likely pack their bags and leave after this game to find their next job, because the Nets will definitely need to open up roster spots to try out other free agents. That's how brutal the competition and elimination process is in the NBA, but Li Wei doesn't seem to care, which is perfectly normal.

Once you establish yourself in this industry, you'll see people who are friends today and rivals tomorrow. On-court arguments and off-court reconciliations are commonplace. Right now, Li Wei just wants to rest and prepare for the second half. He's not content with a modest double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds.

After adjusting their strategy, the second half began in 15 minutes. The third quarter was a test for Li Wei, as the intensity of the game was higher than in the first half, and the Kings would definitely have made specific plans to counter him after the halftime adjustments.

Therefore, some rookies can only play well for half the game, mainly the first half. This is because the intensity is lower in the first half, and players are not yet in the zone, giving rookies and substitutes some room to shine. The third quarter is the stage for superstars, as both teams' stars start to exert their strength, and players with average skills will struggle if they are targeted.

Li Wei remained clear-headed. He didn't let his confidence soar after a few dunks and easy baskets in the first half, nor did he try to score on his own. He continued to focus on defense, rebounding, and supporting his offense, waiting for the right opportunity to strike.

Sure enough, at the start of the third quarter, both teams' shooting percentages weren't as terrifying as in the first half. Both sides struggled offensively, relying solely on free throws for points. Irving missed his shots, Harris missed a three-pointer, and Harden missed a layup. Fortunately, the Kings also struggled offensively, missing both three-pointers and mid-range jumpers. Li Wei firmly controlled the rebounds under the basket, ensuring they didn't lose any defensive rebounds.

The Nets, leading but not worried, were battling for their lives, while the trailing Kings were more anxious. Bagley attempted a post-up against Reeves to break the deadlock, but his dribbling attempt was futile. He slipped and was called for a traveling violation. The Nets players on the sidelines flashed traveling signals, clearly delighted.

Levi's 235-pound weight is undeniable, and his physique is quite impressive. After successfully defending, Levi noticed the Kings' defense loosen up after a period of focused attention, and he sneaked into the paint. The ball was inbounded from the sideline, Harden received it, and seizing the opportunity, delivered a super long pass to the basket.

Li Wei received the ball and easily made a layup, adding two more points.

This play infuriated Luke Walton, who pulled down his mask and berated the Kings players from the sidelines. "What kind of defense is this? Everyone was standing near the three-point line, leaving the paint completely exposed. Nobody noticed Levi sneaking into the paint. This kind of defense is a disgrace!"

Li Wei fully demonstrated his cunning and strategic thinking on the court. Harden's passing was also crucial; he spotted opportunities and quickly delivered the ball. This pass was risky, and some guards would hesitate to pass it, fearing a turnover. Harden, however, is the type of player who seizes every opportunity to pass, which is one reason for his high turnover rate. This often turns the tide, resulting in spectacular plays that leave everyone in awe. But in crucial moments of important playoff games, such passes can also be frustrating. To appreciate its brilliance, you must also be prepared to tolerate its flaws.

Fox drove to the basket, blew past Bruce Brown, and his layup was blocked by Levi's help defense, but the referee called a foul on the hand. Fox's speed was extremely fast, posing a great challenge to Levi's anticipation. He made both free throws, but Harden immediately responded with a one-on-one step-back three-pointer, wiping out Fox's efforts.

When in a good rhythm, Harden's step-back three-pointer is incredibly powerful. It's easy to initiate and highly efficient, a key weapon in Harden's 35-point season average. However, Barnes immediately responded with a three-pointer, and Buddy Hield followed with a catch-and-shoot three, giving the Kings a 6-0 run.

The Rockets and Harden are the originators of the three-point overload; now every team has a very strong three-point shot. In another crucial moment, Li Wei came out to set a screen for Harden on the right, then cut to the middle. Harden didn't pass immediately, but instead used his dribbling rhythm to feign a one-on-one, drawing the defense before passing to Li Wei. Li Wei took a mid-range jumper from the free-throw line, unguarded, scoring two more points!
Li Wei's shooting percentage tonight was astonishing; he only missed one shot, making the rest. Harden stole the ball from Fox on defense, and on the fast break, Li Wei took the lead, relentlessly driving to the basket, receiving the ball and drawing a foul from Barnes. He went to the free-throw line and made both shots. He's already scored 16 points.

The more than 300 spectators in the arena began to get excited, and the fans in the live broadcast room were also excited for Li Wei. Could he break 20 points tonight? How long has it been since a Chinese player scored 20 points in an NBA game? Li Wei could also feel his condition getting hotter and hotter, but unfortunately there were no signs of Conqueror's Haki awakening.

The intensity of both teams' offense and defense increased, and the pace quickened. Nash realized that Levi's peak was over and decisively substituted him for rest after a dead ball situation. The Nets maintained a firm 10-point lead, while the Kings relied on their increasingly accurate three-point shooting to keep up. Buddy Hield then hit another three-pointer from the top of the arc.

Thanks to the widespread availability and accuracy of three-pointers, scoring and closing the gap in the NBA today are incredibly fast. A 10-point lead can be wiped out in the blink of an eye with just three three-pointers. In contrast, two-pointers would take five possessions, and even in the low post, it would require a slow and steady attack. It's nothing like the instant opportunity created by a pick-and-roll, where a shot goes in immediately.

Such matches are more exciting to watch, but less in-depth; they're enjoyable to watch, but lack depth. After the games, watching the highlights reveals that most of it is just shooting from beyond the three-point line; the refined technical contests are becoming increasingly rare.

After a brief pause, Holmes was dominating the paint again, dunking over DeAndre Jordan. Jordan wasn't bothered and inbounded the ball from the baseline. It's just a matter of who dunks on whom; there's no need to take it too seriously. How many people have dunked on him before? What goes around comes around.

Brown received a pass from Harden on the fast break and made a layup. Holmes grabbed the offensive rebound, dodged Jordan's block, and scored again. Jordan now avoids any contact under the basket, relying purely on his height, wingspan, and weight advantage; he'll try to overpower whoever he can, and if he can't, he'll just let it go.

Holmes discovered that playing against DeAndre Jordan was much easier than playing against Levi. Times had really changed. When he first entered the league, Jordan was a formidable center. All-Defensive First Team, All-Star, and in just a few years, he had become nothing more than a facade.

Li Wei did not return to the court in the latter part of the third quarter, and Nash gave him ample time to rest, saving him for the fourth quarter when he was needed. In this game, Nash also gave playing time to other minimum-salary and short-term contract players. Whether they stayed or left, they were given a chance to perform, and Nash did a good job in this regard.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Kings narrowed the gap to 7 points. During one offensive possession, James Harden took a step-back three-pointer, and Harrison Barnes stepped forward to contest it. As a result, Harden landed on Barnes' foot, twisting his ankle.

This gave the Nets coaching staff a scare, and Li Wei was also startled. "That's my MVP! We can't let him get injured!" Fortunately, Harden wasn't injured; he got up, moved his ankle, and it wasn't a big problem. The referees reviewed the replay and called a defensive foul on Barnes, giving Harden three free throws.

Judging from the video replay, Barnes's foot-planting might not have been intentional, but it's unlikely he did it entirely unintentionally. In any case, this dirty move put everyone on edge at the Nets. Nash quickly patted Levi and said, "Victor, go!"

Levi immediately took off his coat and stepped forward, saying to Barnes, "You can try putting your foot under my feet. I'll give you a chance, you try." Barnes didn't offer any explanation. In his eyes, Levi was just a nobody; why should he explain himself? Besides, the more he tried to explain, the worse it would get. Since no one was injured, he decided to pretend it never happened.

That's just how things are in the league. Barnes was right not to explain, but of course, the Nets won't and shouldn't let it go. Before, they definitely would have let it go; Harden getting fouled and elbowed more than once, and Nash getting punched more than once. Now, with Levi, the situation has changed.

Harden made all three free throws, maintaining the Nets' 8-point lead. The Kings missed a three-pointer, and Harden's fast break layup was blocked by Bagley, with three players surrounding him. But Levi anticipated the ball's trajectory perfectly, gently tapping it into the basket for a putback.

Harrison Barnes received the ball at a 45-degree angle on the left side, faked out Claxton, and drove to the basket. Harden came over to help defend, but immediately moved aside. Li Wei suddenly charged out from behind him like a tank, colliding head-on with Barnes and sending him sprawling!

Barnes lay on the ground for a long time, unable to get up. Bagley and Holmes came over and started to fight with Levi. Brown and Harris surrounded Levi to defend him, and the other Kings players immediately joined in. The referee kept blowing whistles, but the scene became increasingly chaotic. Just then, Levi, who was in the center of the room, suddenly yelled, "Fuck off!"

The sound was even sharper than the referee's whistle, piercing eardrums. Everyone instantly sobered up, stopped arguing, calmed down, and stopped fighting. They exchanged glances and dispersed after a short while. Barnes also got up from the ground, rubbed his chest, and said he was fine, just a little dazed from the impact.

Li Wei himself was somewhat surprised. Did such a shout have such a good effect? ​​This Conqueror's Haki came out of nowhere, perhaps it had a lot to do with his mindset.

(End of this chapter)