Chapter 4 The Revival of the Trident

"Don't worry, coach, Jason is definitely even better than you think. Nelson and McKins, none of them have reached the same level as Jason." Chen Junhao has absolute confidence in Anthony. Even Smith, who has been Anthony's head coach for three years, dare not have such confidence.

Can Anthony deserve Chen Junhao's trust?

"Flute!" The whistle sounded again on the court, and Anthony was innocently spreading his hands on the court, and facing him was Nelson, the ace striker of Kansas.

What's going on? Smith and others' hearts suddenly rose to their throats on the bench in Missouri, and they looked at the referee nervously. With thousands of eyes, the referee made a gesture without hesitation: "Crash someone and make a foul!" The referee judged that Nelson, the offensive side, dribbled the ball and made a foul.

"Boom!" An uproar was heard in the stadium.

This is Nelson's fourth foul! The ace forwards of both sides were in the same situation at once. Can Missouri continue to let Anthony stay on the court, can Kansas?

Nelson's two consecutive fouls finally made Kansas' perfect lineup break a gap. The Kansas head coach wished to stamp his feet and beat his chest, and wanted to scream a few times to vent his depression. What Nelson's two fouls made Kansas lose may be a chance to win the game in one fell swoop. Anthony has already suffered four fouls, and the situation has gradually fallen into Kansas's control, but now the situation has suddenly lost control. As Chen Junhao guessed, the Kansas five-man team lacked one of them and could not suppress Anthony, Missouri led by Carman, the twins.

It cannot be said that Kansas' previous efforts were wasted all at once, but the nine-point lead was no longer enough to ensure that Kansas could easily win the game.

Kansas substitution, and the ace forward Nelson was replaced. Even though he was so unwilling, the Kansas head coach still had to replace Nelson. This is not because he does not have Smith's courage, but in fact, Kansas's situation is not as bad as Missouri, and he has to fight to the death.

Replace Nelson and replace second-year substitute forward Van Gundy. A top NCAA team like Kansas will not be an ordinary role even if it is a substitute player. The difference is that he lacks the tacit understanding between Nelson and the other four on the court.

Outside the field, when he saw Nelson being substituted, Chen Junhao couldn't help but jump up, and screamed in excitement with his right fist: "Yse!" Arroyo and others looked at him in surprise and asked curiously: "Jack, are you really sick?"

Chen Junhao was stunned and said, "Yes!" Touching his head, "I don't seem to have a fever anymore, please feel free!" As he said that, he leaned over. Arroyo poked out his right hand and tried the temperature on Chen Junhao's forehead, and said happily, "Yes, it seems that it's not going to burn. Jack, you can play!"

"Go on the court?" Chen Junhao shook his head and said, "No, I won't play unless I have to. Believe in Jason and Mike. Now the opponent has lost one main striker, and the balance of the situation has returned to balance. It is not impossible for Jason and Mike to seize this opportunity to turn the situation around in one fell swoop." Chen Junhao looked calm and had a convincing powerful force in his talk. Arroyo, Macri and others looked at Chen Junhao unconsciously a look of respect.

The situation on the court is as Chen Junhao judged earlier. Anthony and others seized the opportunity to counterattack and scored a gap in scores has returned to the atmosphere. When the offense and defense were transferred, Kansas was no longer a tacit cooperation after replacing Nelson. Kansas, composed of five starting players, is a linked, precise and efficient combat group, but now only one of them is missing, the combat effectiveness of the entire team has been reduced. Pick-roll, pass, pass pick-roll, and move, Kansas' rhythm has been slowed down unconsciously.

After receiving the ball, McKins finally seized an opportunity outside the penalty area to jump and shoot, and the ball hit the rebound and bounced back to the basket.

The difference is back to nine points.

However, everyone in Missouri was not dissatisfied at all. They quickly counterattacked back under the leadership of Anthony and Carman. Charlton stepped on the three-point line, and Pierce quickly moved out of the position to respond. The two were intertwined. After receiving the ball, Pierce took advantage of his height and raised his hand. The basketball flew over the top of the defender's head and flew towards the basket.

Shooting?

Passing the ball? The answer is obvious. Several figures appeared at the same time under the basket. McKins and Kaman jumped up in the air at the same time. The two of them grabbed the basketball with their right hands at the same time.

It was a pass! But it seemed that this pass was too reckless, and Kaman could not use this pass to complete the attack. Seeing that the basketball was falling, it was about to fall into the competition between two Optimus Primes in the basket. Kaman's right hand in the air suddenly changed his claws to palms, and he was the first to hit the basketball before McKins. The basketball "bang" sounded and flew out of the penalty area. A figure there caught the ball, suddenly bounced up, the basketball in the air raised its head, and raised its hand to shoot - a coherent action! "Swish!" The perfect action was a perfect goal, and the ball entered!

Anthony!

A beautiful blow, a beautiful offensive cooperation! Pierce's pass was accurate to Carman's direct pass reaction. Such offensive cooperation is not the first time in this game, and it is definitely not an accidental inspiration. Before last year, Missouri had no excellent point guard to control the game, so many times had to rely on the cooperation of inside players to find opportunities. This cooperation can often work at critical moments. This time is no exception.

"Yeah!" Missouri fans cheered happily. The fans at the scene waved their fists and shouted loudly, and more were the figures waiting in front of the TV. Without Chen Junhao's dispatch, they could have such precise cooperation. It shows that Missouri is indeed a strong team with profound background. It is not a lucky chance to have such a good result this year.

Kansas immediately suspended, and at this time the Kansas head coach had to find some ways to curb the opponent's momentum. Otherwise, the advantage he worked hard to win would soon be wasted.

With timeouts and substitutions, all four players except Van Gundy who had just played, substituting four substitutes. With all the substitutes, Kansas is also trying to create the best chance for the final decisive battle.

The five in this game are also the second lineup commonly used by Kansas. Although it is slightly inferior to the first lineup, the winning is more physically strong. At this time, you can use stronger defense to curb the power of the Missouri Gemini. Leaving all the main players to retain their physical strength for the final decisive battle, after losing the possibility of winning the game in one fell swoop, Kansas bets the winner in the last quarter. However, the courage of the Kansas head coach is not inferior to Smith.

Can Kansas, who plays on the bench, compete with Missouri led by the Gemini?

After the timeout, Kansas' offense stabilized the rhythm and passed the ball patiently on the periphery. The pick-and-roll cooperation was carried out, and the basketball was played from the outside to the inside from the inside to the outside. Kansas didn't seem to be in a hurry to take action, but the continuous running of the five players on the court forced Missouri's defensive players to concentrate and run left and right to assist in defense. Finally, an accurate pass from the outside and a wonderful pick-and-roll opportunity outside the penalty area came. Van Gundy took the ball and leaped up after receiving the ball, and his body moved horizontally in the air and threw the ball high with one hand to the basket. "Swish!" The clear sound of rubbing the net, the goal scored.

He scored a goal very quickly and neatly. Van Gundy's offensive ability does not seem to be inferior to Nelson. Such an excellent offensive player has always been sitting on the bench. The luxury of the giant team is really jealous!

Offense and defense are transferred. The Kansas lineup composed of all substitutes may not be as tacit as the main lineup, but it is more generous in running and pressing tightly, and double-teaming to assist defense, which makes Kansas' defense suddenly seem to rise to a higher level. Under normal circumstances, this should be impossible. However, if all five players are at the most physically strong, it is impossible to defend with a desperate way of not caring about physical exhaustion and fouls.

Missouri's pass is quite difficult. Every player holding the ball will always be pressed by at least one opponent in time, and every player receiving the ball may be double-teamed, especially Anthony and Kaman. Insider Kaman stood at the position outside the penalty area to receive the ball, and two opponents had double-teamed at the same time. Kaman's reaction was also very fast. The ball was moved to the hand, and Anthony flashed near the free throw line. He faced a double-teamed immediately. Holding the ball with both hands, shaking his foot left and right, suddenly accelerated sideways without any dribbling movements, jumped up in one step, and the air body moved horizontally towards the direction of the basket, throwing with one hand, and the basketball broke the high arc and crossed the inside opponent's block and fell into the basket.

It is exactly the same as the opponent's goal, but Anthony's breakthrough is indeed a double-team for the opponent. This goal is completely a reflection of the personal ability of the ace player.

...

This round of offense and defense is almost a general portrayal of the offensive and defensive situation of both sides in the remaining period of the third quarter. Kansas is more active in defense, while Missouri's offensive is even better with Anthony and Carman's advance personal abilities. With one increase and the other decrease, Missouri's offensive efficiency has not been significantly improved. When the offense and defense are transferred, the opponent's active cooperation and surprisingly good luck have an extremely high shooting percentage, and the offensive efficiency is not inferior to Missouri.

In this way, when the third quarter ended and the fourth quarter began, the score gap between the two sides remained at seven points.

65:72, Missouri fell behind by seven points. He only scored 65 points in three quarters, which is also the lowest score in the first three quarters of Missouri this season.

"Damn it, you can't get close to the score!" Chen Junhao clenched his fists and was secretly anxious. Anthony, Kaman and others were sweating all over. Their beautiful technical data in the past three quarters was more because their physical strength was far beyond their usual consumption. In the remaining quarter, the opponents were sure to play with the strongest lineup. How much is the confidence to win the game against the opponent Missouri who is waiting for his leisure?

Now I'm still seven points behind.

"Coach!" At this time, Chen Junhao finally couldn't stand still, watching coldly, gently pulling Smith's sleeve, and his eyes signaled: Let me play!

Smith turned a blind eye and his sharp eyes swept across the faces of Anthony and others. In the last minute before playing in the fourth quarter, Missouri's trump cards were all on the table. If Chen Junhao couldn't return to the court, Missouri's chances of winning in this game would be so slim. As a coach, Smith knew better than anyone else.

However, he was still sticking to his idea: Jack cannot play, and he cannot bet on Missouri's hope for the entire season for a game.

"Jason, Mike, you two can't get off the court. No matter how difficult it is, you have to grit your teeth and persevere. Do you know?"

"Ysesir!" The two panting men answered in unison, their voices very loudly as if they were not so unspeakable that they could not show their confidence and strength. The players in the Missouri were all excited. The confidence of the ace players is the confidence to win the team and the morale of other players.

Chen Junhao sighed secretly: If Anthony and Carman were really confident, the answer just now would not be so loud. Usually, when Smith asked the same question at this time, Anthony would smile faintly, while Carman would make proud gestures. The loud answer can only be explained by: they need this loud voice to boost their confidence and strength.

"Damn it!" Chen Junhao clenched his fists secretly and sat off the court to watch his team be ravaged. It was really uncomfortable.

Kansas was unable to win the game in one fell swoop, and Missouri was unable to take advantage of the opponent's starting player to pull the score. Both sides had their own shortcomings in the past three quarters. However, the situation is really completely against Kansas - if Chen Junhao can't return to the court.

"Flute!" The whistle sounded and the game started again. Missouri attacked and Kansas defended. After resting for nearly a full quarter, the five Kansas players are now in good physical strength. When Charlton's ball was taken across the midline, he was immediately marked. Kansas expanded the defense area.

"Pass!" Anthony raised his right hand and came up to meet him. After Charlton shook left and right, the basketball bounced up and rushed towards Anthony. Anthony received the ball and turned around. There were two defensive players in front - Nelson and McKins, double teams outside the three-point line.

"Bang, bang!" Anthony took a steady pace and did not seem to be in a hurry to attack. As the number one striker in the United States, Anthony showed more of his power forward-style offensive methods before this game, and he broke through the double team in a dribble way. This was rarely seen before.

Today, Anthony seemed to finally break this routine. "Bang, bang!" He changed hands to dribble twice. Anthony's body suddenly flashed, and the speed of the body seemed to be forced to rush over with the advantage of speed and strength. McKins and Nelson did not think that their bodies had been reflexed and moved to block the past. "Bang!" The basketball bounced up with the sound of dribbling, changing from behind the left hand to the right hand, and his body also changed its movement direction suddenly. "Whoosh!" The storm flashed from Nelson's right side like a storm, and it was already in the penalty area. Kansas' empty inside line faced Anthony and Carman's two heavyweight attackers at the same time. The ending can be imagined. After a simple cooperation at the basket, Carman easily sent the ball into the basket.

"67:72, there is only five points left in this gap." Anthony and Kaman clapped their high-highs, and both saw this message from each other's sharp eyes: Come on, you must not lose!

Anthony and Carman did not lose their top star style, but the Kansas Five was obviously unmoved. After the baseline ball was opened, the tide of five quickly penetrated into Missouri's defensive lineup. Oulley encountered a block and passed quickly. McKins came out to meet the ball. After receiving the ball, Nelson took the ball and passed it for a long throw. The basketball passed through the Missouri three-two mixed joint double-team, crossed half of the court to fly to the bottom corner on the other side of the court, where Kansas first three-point shooter Newbe received the ball, raised his hand to shoot, and the basketball broke the high arc and accurately passed through the center of the basket.

Kansas' substitution effect was immediately effective. Missouri's defense was easily broken with the opponent's exquisite and skillful cooperation. Such an offensive can really be called a destruction.

The offense and defense were transferred, and Anthony and Carman were still the two stars in Missouri who acted as arrows, and Mario and others assisted as completely supporting roles. Passing and actively running, the targets of passing are always Anthony and Carman. Missouri has a thorough and complete star tactics, which is almost the same as the Missouri team last year and even the previous year.

Last year's encounter with Missouri and Kansas, Missouri finally defeated his opponent to advance with the super performance of Anthony and Carman. Will there be the same ending this year?

"Bang!" The basketball hit the basket and bounced up, and the rebound was confiscated by the opponent. Anthony's shot was off the basket under the influence of the opponent.

Quickly return to defense.

"Swoosh, swosh, swosh!" The ball was passed quickly, and the fast figure flashed. After several interlaced figures, a person jumped up outside the penalty area, holding the basketball high in his hand. When the Missouri player who rushed over to block it, he could only watch the basketball fly over his fingers weakly. "Swish!" With a sound of breaking the net, the ball entered and scored!

69:76, the gap returns to seven points again.

The offensive and defensive transformations in the first three rounds were quite representative. Missouri's offense was absolute core and relied on the Gemini, while Kansas held high the banner of overall cooperation. The mercury-like offense made Missouri's defense become a sieve with air leakage on all sides for a while. Although Anthony and Carman were extremely brave, at this time of the game, they were under pressure from the entire team, and their physical strength was almost at the limit. Physical energy consumption and the opponent's tight defense, followed by a sharp drop in the shooting percentage.

The gap between the scores between the two teams has further widened.

Smith paused repeatedly, trying to strengthen the defense and stop the opponent, but when his main character in the offense and defense was extremely exhausted, the tactical adjustment was of no use.

The situation is very obvious. If Chen Junhao doesn't play, Missouri will have no hope of reversal.

Time, in the fifth minute of the fourth quarter, the score was 75:88, and the gap had widened to thirteen points. At the same time, the "Flute!" whistle sounded, "The foul by the thug!" Anthony made a fifth foul. Anthony was panting and bent down while his knees seemed to have no strength to even be angry.

"Pause" Smith had to pause again.

"Coach!" Chen Junhao stared at Smith with anxious eyes, his face full of urgent expressions, and he could no longer delay.

Smith stared at Chen Junhao deeply, and this time he hesitated. From the styles of Anthony and Kaman, two star players he cultivated, it can be inferred that although Smith does not belong to the domineering type, he is definitely not modest and cautious, the kind of person who can press his ace player on the bench to watch his opponent's arrogant attitude.

"Coach, I'm completely cured." Chen Junhao was hitting the iron while the iron was hot and quickly pushed the team doctor forward. The team doctor was in his hand with an electronic thermometer. Everyone's eyes hit the team doctor.

The team doctor raised the thermometer in his hand and shrugged: "I can only say that Missouri has a good luck. Jack can play!"

"Yse!" After saying that, Mario and others had already cheered, and the cheers stopped immediately, and everyone's hopeful eyes were all focused on head coach Smith.

After all, Smith had to nod and agree to Chen Junhao before he could return to the court.

Under the gaze of everyone, Smith nodded heavily: "After a simple exercise, your body is ready to go on stage immediately!"

"Ysesir!" Chen Junhao jumped up, took off his coat, trousers, tidyed his shoelaces, quickly moved his hands and feet to stretch his body, and prepared to play. The movement on the Missouri bench gave the audience outside the court a big uproar immediately sounded in the stadium after seeing it. Missouri fans cheered with glee, and Kansas buzzed discussion... On the other side of the court, the Kansas players' eyes couldn't help but snatched towards this side.

"Is that Chinese finally going to play?" Olly, Nelson and others looked back and flashed a sharp light. Defeating a trident that lacks a corner is not a glory. Only by defeating the strongest opponent can we prove that the Kansas five-man combination is the best and greatest combination in the league this year.

Anthony, Kaman was sweating profusely, but his fatigue seemed to disappear all of a sudden, with a spring breeze on his face and smiling. At the same time, the two raised their right hands and Chen Junhao's left back and slapped their high-highs: "Welcome back, Jack!"

"I've been waiting for you for a long time. This time it's our turn to kick their ass hard!" Chen Junhao said with a smile.

"Well said, kick them hard in the ass!" Mario said excitedly.

Chen Junhao turned to look at Mario and smiled and said, "Rick, are you still very energetic?"

"Of course." Mario made a powerful pose, "I am Rick Mario, who is known as the Immortal King Kong."

"It's good if you have the strength, your strength will be indispensable later."

"Await for your call at any time!" Mario gave a frivolous American military salute with both fingers.

"Paul!" Chen Junhao stretched out his right hand to Pierce, the most taciturn in the main lineup. Pierce stretched out his right palm and gently hit the right palm handed over by Chen Junhao: "Welcome back, please, we must not lose this game!"

"That's of course, how could Missouri admit defeat so easily!"

...

For a minute, Chen Junhao had not returned to the court, but the atmosphere in Missouri had completely changed. Missouri, who was invincible and invincible, was back now. The momentum of "the enemy was destroyed in the ashes while chatting and laughing" had instantly risen. Smith secretly thanked that his choice was correct: even if he couldn't do anything, his presence on the court alone would be enough to revitalize his teammates.

When did Chen Junhao become the source of Missouri's confidence?

"Flute!" The whistle sounded.
To be continued...