Chapter 15 I am Harden’s nemesis

Arizona State University's ability to reach the top 16 does not depend on luck.

Although their strength in each position is not outstanding, they are all on the passing line. Coupled with Harden's work, they are naturally very strong.

With the support of the fans at the scene, UCLA started the first attack, still using their most familiar tactic, the Spanish pick-and-roll.

Arizona State University has naturally studied the opponent's tactics, and they do a very good job of defending without ball screens.

Li Ze bounced the ball out and successfully shook off the defender, who was very close to him.

But this kind of defense did not put much pressure on Li Ze. He held the ball in his right hand and directly accelerated to break through. He made an emergency stop near the free throw line and pulled back, and then shot a jump shot directly.

"Shua" hit steadily from mid-range.

In fact, the defender did not lose his position on this ball, but Li Ze's sudden stop and start gave him space to shoot.

His excellent wingspan allows him to shoot without much interference, his talent is overwhelming, and he is simple and crude.

The UCLA fans at the scene began to cheer for the team's first score.

"A very beautiful jump shot. Kayce took advantage of his body to complete the shot. His mid-range hit rate near the free throw line is very high!"

Reggie Miller immediately sang praises for Li Ze.

Arizona State University's tactics are mainly pick-and-roll, which Harden is particularly good at.

Before the game, the UCLA coaching staff told the players to switch defenses immediately in the pick-and-roll. UCLA's post players are not tall and have good mobility, so they can defend well.

But being able to defend doesn't mean being able to defend. Harden accelerated directly after the pick-and-roll, relying on the defender to break through and hit a layup.

UCLA's defense didn't attack, it just gave Harden physical confrontation.

Collison dribbled the ball past half court and handed the ball to Holiday. Li Ze started to run the figure 8 with an off-ball screen. Holiday handed the ball to Li Ze.

Li Ze immediately signaled No. 5 to come over for a pick-and-roll. After a successful pick-and-roll, facing the opponent's big man, Li Ze directly accelerated to break through.

At the moment when the opponent's inside defender came to help defend, he passed the ball to Holiday, who slipped down the baseline to steal the chicken, and successfully scored 2 points.

After Holiday scored, he gave Li Ze a gesture to indicate a beautiful pass!

"Efficient tactics are executed. Kayce's passing should not be ignored. He sent 10 assists to his teammates in the last game!"

Smith began to poison Li Ze.

Harden has been guarded by Holiday since he held the ball, and this feeling is somewhat familiar to Harden.

"Why does it feel like facing Klay's defense?" Harden suddenly remembered his miserable high school game.

Constant confrontation, constant pressure with the body, and never making an interception easily, this is Holiday's defensive method.

When Harden handed over the ball, ran without the ball, passed the ball hand-to-hand and initiated a pick-and-roll, the defender he faced became Li Ze.

This is the effect of echoing on the defensive end. Li Ze shouted loudly when the team was defending to ensure that everyone's defensive thinking was highly unified.

Facing a familiar opponent, Li Ze let Harden take his right hand.

Harden tried to break through from the left in disguise several times, but Li Ze saw through it. They were too familiar with each other.

In the end, he had no choice but to break through and throw from the right, but was interfered by Li Ze's long arm. He hit the ball angrily, and Li Ze protected the rebound.

A quick pass to Collison, but unfortunately Arizona State retreated very quickly and fell into positional offense again.

After continuous running without the ball, the tactic was not successfully executed. Li Ze immediately received the ball from the outside and signaled Holiday to come over and cover.

The purpose of the screen is to replace Harden, the defensive end will take turns to fight against you, and the offensive end will also consume you if there is a chance!

This is a strategy customized by the UCLA coaching staff before the game. When Harden's physical fitness declines, UCLA's pressing tactics will explode.

Faced with Harden's defense, Li Ze first made a simple cross step to the left to pretend to break through, and then immediately pulled his left hand back under his crotch to mobilize Harden's center of gravity.

Then he held the ball in his right hand, dribbled the ball continuously with his hips, then took a step back and shot a jump shot from outside the three-point line.

"Shua" the ball hit the net.

Fans at the scene first exclaimed "Oh!!!" when they saw Li Ze's crossover.

When Harden stepped back and scored, the exclamations turned into excited shouts.

"ah!!!"

The UCLA fans shouted wildly, they loved this goal so much.

"Wonderful goal, look at this series of swings, I think Harden's defense has tried its best! Kayce is really outstanding."

Reggie Miller stopped pretending, he showed his cards, he has always been Li Zechui.

Harden looked at Li Ze's series of familiar actions, his face darkened slightly, and the painful experience of the high school game in his memory resurfaced again.

Do you know how I got here?

For three whole years, I haven’t won once! Harden roared in his heart

Maybe Li Ze woke up Harden. In the next game, Harden began to make sudden shots from inside and outside, and at the same time frequently provided assists to his teammates.

UCLA's Li Ze, Collison, and Holiday took turns pestering Harden, even giving Harden physical confrontation and making it uncomfortable for him to catch the ball.

Arizona State University relied on Harden's performance to hold on to the score, while UCLA played the charm of team basketball.

The whole team scored. Collison, Holiday, and Li Ze could all hold the ball, and the opponent couldn't restrict them at all.

Just like that, with 2 minutes left in the first half, the score reached 38-38.

In the timeout requested by Arizona State University, Harden's playing time was a bit too much. The rotation of players was not effective after playing, so Harden could only be given one more shot.

"James, slow down the tempo. There are two minutes until the halftime break. Just hold on!" the head coach quickly told his beloved disciple.

Harden was already gasping for air at this time. He couldn't help it because the opponent gave him too much physical resistance.

Fortunately for Collison, Li Ze and Holiday were simply inhuman, and they were completely targeting his right hand, which forced him to make too many changes of direction to get rid of the defense.

In addition, Harden played a lot of time in previous games, and his physical fitness has already declined.

"That's it, boys, James Harden is about to be defeated by us. His physical fitness has begun to decline. Hold on and keep pressing!"

Coach Ben shouted at everyone, he saw the dawn of victory.

Holiday still kept guarding Harden. Although Harden wanted to slow down the pace of the game, UCLA would not allow it.

After continuously passing the ball, Li Ze took an open shot from outside the three-point line and made a steady hit.

In the last attack of the first half, Harden was already a little tired, and Holiday was still guarding him.

At this time, Collison suddenly stepped forward to attack, and Harden was forced to take the ball.

Li Ze saw the opportunity and successfully stole the ball. He ran to the basket at full speed.

A rounded windmill dunk made the UCLA fans cheer again.

"At the end of the first half, both sides played well, but in the end Arizona State was in trouble and Harden's physical fitness declined."

Kenny Smith began by briefly reviewing the defenses Harden faced.

"UCLA has studied Harden very thoroughly. They give Harden enough physical confrontation, and at the same time they will never steal the ball easily. Harden will be even more difficult in the second half!"

Reggie Miller also began to analyze the strategies of the two teams, and appropriately criticized UCLA again.

The halftime break could not save Harden's physical condition. After facing the struggles of Li Ze and Holiday, Harden's shooting percentage began to decline.

At the same time, other Arizona State players also began to make mistakes, and UCLA's defensive rotation rate was too high.

About 10 minutes into the second half, UCLA's surge began.

Facing Harden's defense, Li Ze directly played with his back and turned over and shot a fadeaway jumper with two hits.

"Shua" scored easily, Harden's defense could no longer keep up.

Li Ze initiated a pick-and-roll outside the three-point line, went directly to the left to break through the basket, and pulled the backhand stick for a layup.

"Bang shua." The penalty will be added to the calculation.

Facing Li Ze's close defense, Harden had no choice but to choose a mid-range step-back jumper after his physical fitness declined.

"Bang" continues to strike.

Collison held the ball past half-court and initiated a pick-and-roll, making continuous breakthroughs and passing the ball. Holiday hit an open three-pointer!

Arizona State University takes a timeout, they really can't stand it anymore.

Sure enough, after the timeout, the offense was still struggling, the defense could not keep up with UCLA's pace, and the score was completely widened.

In the end, UCLA defeated its opponent 72-60 and successfully advanced to the Elite 8!

Harden sat helplessly on the sidelines, feeling a little broken inside. "How old are you?"

Li Ze happily accepted the cheers given to him by UCLA fans.

"It's the top 8. I don't know what achievement badges will be produced in this game. I'm really looking forward to it!"

嘤嘤嘤! Please collect it!
Chapter completed!