NBA: The God of Basketball Begins with Precise Scoring

Chapter 50: The Ultimate Layup, Scoring Amidst Layers of Defense!

In reality, Li Xingchen relied on his own skill level for the vast majority of the game, and the system rarely gave him any hints.

The first time was naturally in the playoffs. To score fifteen points in forty seconds on his own was something he simply couldn't do.

The second time was in Game 3 of the Warriors vs. Jazz series, which was also a close game. In the final moments, Li Xingchen was still three points away from reaching his sixteen-point goal, so the system gave him a notification.

Unfortunately, after his crucial three-pointer kept the team alive, Green's mistake ruined their chance to turn the game around. Otherwise, this game wouldn't be called the pivotal Game 5.

And the third time is now.

The previous two times, whether it was to keep the team in suspense by chasing points or to just reach the point where Li Xingchen could score, the system gave a three-point shot suggestion.

This time, the system's best shot opportunity was not a three-pointer from the outside, but a layup!

As Li Xingchen watched the system rehearse the entire tactical process and provide detailed explanations in his mind, he was speechless with amazement.

However, anything produced by the system is guaranteed to be of high quality.

Li Xingchen just needed to follow along.

The timeout is over; let's return to the game.

Warriors' offensive possession.

Kerr's tactical plan involved cross screens from Li Xingchen and Curry.

It's still quite conventional; even if you execute it normally, it might not work. However, the system provides an abnormal execution method.

"Royce O'Neal is a defensive player who relies heavily on his defensive experience. In his eyes, your current label is just an outside shooter."

"So, after you and Curry cross over, when he switches to defend you, he'll worry that you'll take the opportunity to shoot during the switch, so he'll anticipate your move and jump to try and block your shot immediately."

"But you can do the opposite, making him outsmart you. He anticipates your shot, but you deliberately drive to the basket..."

"In the end, he'll only end up shooting himself in the foot, completely exposing your weakness!"

Li Xingchen didn't doubt a single word of the system's explanation.

It wasn't just out of trust in the system, but also because the analysis was so convincing that it was impossible to refute.

He even had a vague feeling that every time the system gave him a hint, it was as if it was indirectly teaching him something, making his basketball IQ higher and higher...

And the actual situation was exactly as the system predicted.

After he and Curry set a cross screen near the free-throw line, Curry moved towards the top of the key, while he moved towards the baseline.

The Jazz did indeed switch on defense, but since the ball was in Curry's hands, Royce O'Neale would choose to delay Curry before chasing Li Xingchen, in order to limit the possibility of Curry shooting a three-pointer the moment the defense switched.

In a split second, Curry made the most accurate assessment of the situation and immediately passed the ball to Li Xingchen.

At this moment, because Royce O'Neal delayed Curry, he was unable to instantly return to his defensive position to lock down Li Xingchen. The only thing he could do was to anticipate that Li Xingchen would shoot a three-pointer from the corner, so he would jump in advance to interfere with Li Xingchen.

This is equivalent to simultaneously performing both defensive positioning and jumping interference.

There was certainly an element of gambling involved, but Royce O'Neill was convinced he would be right.

Li Xingchen, aren't you a 3D wing player? So when faced with this kind of opportunity, what else can you do but quickly and decisively shoot a three-pointer?

In response, Li Xingchen said that he would still dribble and break through!

While O'Neal was still flying in mid-air, he had already "whooshed" along the baseline, bypassing O'Neal's defense, and heading straight for the basket!

When Cole saw this, he simply shrugged.

Dude, are you in Ganzhou?

This is different from the tactics I drew up!

Previously, when asked to drive to the basket more often, Curry would insist on shooting three-pointers.

Now you're asked to shoot three-pointers from the outside, but you insist on driving to the basket instead.

Why is it that none of these players are obedient?

What breakthrough? Do you even have the skill to break through with the ball?

With his hands outstretched, Cole's mind raced, wondering if he had elevated Li Xingchen's status on the team too quickly lately, making the kid arrogant and even daring to disregard tactics.

However, Li Xingchen had already successfully broken through to within two or three steps of the basket, and it looked like he was about to take off for a layup.

But let's not forget that the Jazz also have Rudy Gobert, the season's Defensive Player of the Year, guarding the paint!

Another major reason why Royce O'Neal dared to take this gamble was that even if his defense was breached, Gobert would still be there to protect the rim.

A layup?

Get ready to get slapped back with a big hat!

Fortunately, Green played a role in this game, moving Gobert slightly towards the top of the key.

This meant that Gobert was ultimately unable to directly block Li Xingchen's path to the basket, and could only jump from the side to try and block the shot!

But Gobert is indeed tall and has a long wingspan, so even if he just cuts in from the side, blocking Li Xingchen's layup is an easy task.

It looked like a block, and a strong contender for the best defensive play of the season was about to be added to the list.

But how could the system not have predicted all of this?

Li Xingchen had anticipated that Gobert's height would be sufficient to block his layup from his normal position, so he took an extra step forward when he jumped.

While soaring through the air, he forcefully twisted his body to extend his hang time. After a layup fake, he quickly retrieved the ball, stretched out his hand, circled around to the other side of the basket, and then gently flicked it upwards.

He perfectly avoided the block and executed a layup with incredible hang time!

The Warriors' bench players had already stood up and were ready to cheer when Li Xingchen broke through Royce O'Neal's defense.

When they saw him pull away from Gobert's long arms and make a layup through layers of defense with an incredible angle, everyone jumped up!

Kerr once again bent his outstretched arms to cover the back of his head, his face filled with disbelief, just like when he faced Curry's three-pointer back then.

This doesn't make sense...

Let's not even talk about those god-like, incredible plays like hang time layups; let's just talk about dribbling and driving to the basket.

Li Xingchen, how come you, a 3D wing player, are so skilled at dribbling and breaking through defenses?

Just how many more amazing skills does this kid have up his sleeve...?

Just how much potential does this kid have that has never been discovered before?

102: 103.

Thanks to Li Xingchen's incredible goal, the Warriors narrowed the gap to just one point.

With 46 seconds left, they must defend at least one Jazz attack before they have a chance to win the game.

Snyder didn't call a timeout because the Jazz only had one timeout left, and he probably wanted to hold on a little longer.

Li Xingchen, on the other hand, received another notification from the system.

What's going on? There's a notification even during the defensive round?

In an instant, Li Xingchen realized what was happening.

The previous reward bonus only included a minor boost to the defensive performance of defenders.

More importantly, there's his "point control element": he's guaranteed to get two blocks in a single game!

Now, there is less than a minute left in the game.

If I remember correctly, he has only made one steal in this game so far, and has not yet made a block.

That means the next defensive round...

It will still be his performance time!