Chapter 2 In-team training, enter the March Madness list!
In the University of Texas basketball training hall, the atmosphere during today's team training was a little serious, even a little heavy.
Because after this training session, head coach Rick Barnes will announce the 12-man roster for March Madness!
In fact, the rough roster of the team has been determined, and all that is left are a few water dispenser managers.
But even being a water fountain keeper is enough to make fringe substitutes fight over their heads.
It is the dream of every college player to participate in this stage of March Madness as a player.
Even if it's just appearing in garbage time, or even waving a towel on the bench and handing water to the main players.
After the warm-up and shooting training, head coach Rick Barnes looked at the watch on his wrist: "It's almost time."
Assistant coach Russell Spliman nodded, then clapped his hands vigorously:
"Boys, come here, let's start the 5v5 training match!"
When he heard that he was going to play a 5v5 training match, Chen Yan's eyes suddenly shone. 5v5 can best reflect a player's comprehensive strength, and it is also the best opportunity for him to show his strength and talent to the coaching staff!
Rick Barnes adopted a training method today where the first team and the second team competed in groups.
The training match started soon, and under the arrangement of the coaching staff, Chen Yan first watched the match from the sidelines.
Even in the team's 5v5 training, he was unable to start the game. In other words, he was a substitute among the substitutes. However, Chen Yan had already been mentally prepared. If he was not a substitute among the substitutes, he would not have to pursue an opportunity to enter the 12-man roster here.
.
"Well played, just conduct the ball faster!"
"Good shot! Good shot!"
All the substitute players played very hard in this training match, and applause kept ringing throughout the stadium.
Head coach Rick Barnes, who was watching the game from the sidelines, clapped and shouted from time to time, expressing his satisfaction with the players' training attitude today.
In the first few rounds, the two sides fought back and forth, but after a few minutes, the difference in strength between the two sides gradually became apparent.
This cannot be blamed on the bench players, because the Texas Longhorns have two NBA-level players in their starting lineup.
Needless to say, Durant is the absolute core of the Texas Longhorns. In the 35 games he played this season, he averaged 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. In 11 games, he scored more than
30, and scored more than 35 points in 4 games, which can be said to be crazy in the NCAA!
In front of this group of substitutes, Durant scored like water, and he felt like an adult beating a child.
Another player with NBA strength is the team's point guard DJ Augustin.
DJ Augustin averaged 14.4 points and 6.7 assists per game this season. This player is very fast and has good three-point shooting and organizational skills. His ability to pirate Hardaway's crotch changes is his killer.
trick.
What impressed Chen Yan most about him was the scene when he scored a three-pointer to defeat the Raptors in the playoffs of his previous life.
If Durant is the team's thigh, then DJ Augustin can be regarded as a calf.
In addition to these two players, the team's first lineup also includes players with NBA potential such as Damian James and Dexter Pittman. Together, these players make it very difficult for the bench lineup to cope.
The training match lasted for about 10 minutes, and head coach Rick Barnes made adjustments to the second lineup.
"Chen, Justin, Harris, you three come on!"
Chen Yan stood up immediately after hearing the coach's call. Whether he can be included in the final 12-man roster depends on his next performance!
The three players who were replaced seemed a little frustrated. They played poorly in the training match just now. I wonder if this will affect their inclusion in the 12-man roster.
"Look! Our top student is on stage!"
After seeing Chen Yan play, Damian James laughed and joked.
The NCAA has Proposition 48, and players whose academic performance does not meet the standards will not be able to participate in all NCAA events.
Wade had to sit on the bench for a year during his freshman year because of poor grades. It was very miserable.
With Wade's lesson learned, subsequent college players have paid special attention to their own performance. First-year students such as Durant and DJ Augustin often come to Chen Yan for tutoring after training.
It's not because Chen Yan is so good at studying, but because these bad students on the basketball team are too outrageous!
Chen Yan never thought that one day he would be able to tutor others in their studies...
If one person dares to teach, a group of people dare to learn.
Over time, he earned the nickname "The Top Student" within the team.
Damian James's teasing was not malicious, but his tone made Chen Yan a little unhappy.
"Chen, ignore that guy!"
"Perform well, concentrate on training games, and seize this opportunity."
DJ-Augustin and Durant walked to Chen Yan and comforted him.
Both of them have a good relationship with Chen Yan privately, so they naturally hope that he can be on the last train for the final 12-man roster.
Chen Yan nodded. He knew that his first priority now was to gain the coach's trust and enter the squad, rather than to conflict with his teammates or do something meaningless.
After the substitutions, the training match continues.
"Clang!"
The substitutes attacked first, and Martin Hill was furious as soon as he came up.
In order to qualify for the main roster, the substitute players were eager to express themselves. Chen Yan did not even touch the ball in the first round of offense after coming on the field.
But the problem is not big. If there is no ball, Chen Yan can grab it by himself. If there is no gun or cannon, the enemy will create it for us!
In the offensive round of the main lineup, DJ Augustin dribbled the ball across the half court and handed it to Damian James. After receiving the ball, the latter just stuck his butt out and raised the ball to prepare for a fight with Durant on the wing.
Hand in hand to cooperate.
Damian James can be regarded as an oddity among forward players. He neither has the shooting stability of outside players nor the ability to handle the ball during dribbling.
Being able to serve as the starter for the Texas Longhorns depends on his excellent physical fitness and active defensive attitude.
Just when Damian James and Durant were about to join hands and succeed, a third party, Chen Yan, suddenly intervened!
[God-level ball stealing]!
"Snapped!"
Chen Yan completed the steal under Damian's eyes!
The starting speed was too fast. Just when Damian James wanted to catch up, Chen Yan had already rushed through the half court with nitrogen!
Durant raised his head and glanced at Chen Yan's back.
Is this calf equipped with the same V10 engine as Lamborghini???
"Kang Cang!"
1v0 in the frontcourt, kicking the ground with his left foot and flying dunk with his right hand! This round of offense ended!
At this time, the members of the coaching staff watching the game were not fully aware of Chen Yan's changes. They just felt that he worked very hard today and played very hard as soon as he came on the court.
In addition, I have a vague feeling that his speed today seems to be much faster than before...
However, Chen Yan's operation in the next round shocked everyone!
After a simple pass from the main lineup, Durant stepped forward and the ball came out of the frame.
Chen Yan turned around and jumped up high, grabbing the defensive rebound!
Seeing that there were no good fast break opportunities, he suppressed the rhythm and carried the ball across the half court.
One step beyond the three-point line, Damian James appeared in front of Chen Yan.
In the last round, the handoff was broken, which made Damian James very embarrassed, so in this round, Chen Yan took the initiative to come up with the ball.
In Damian's impression, Chen Yan's ball control level is about the same as his own, and the two of them are considered juniors at the University of Texas.
Without thinking, Damian James pounced directly on Chen Yan.
Gambling steal!
At the next moment, Chen Yan suddenly pressed his center of gravity, pretended to go to the left, and with a flash of lightning, he directly switched the ball to his right hand!
【Answer crossover】!
"Hey~"
With the sound of sneakers rubbing against the floor, Chen Yan seemed to have disappeared out of thin air in front of Damian James!
Damian James was so stupid that he turned to stone directly on the spot!
He said that he had seen big changes in direction, but he had never seen one as big as Chen Yan!
Iverson's signature crossover is famous for its wide range. In addition, Chen Yan is nearly 20 centimeters taller than AI. With his height and long arms, Chen Yan's crossover is even wider than Iverson's original version.
Be exaggerated!
One shake has opened nearly half of the body!
When he reacted, Chen Yan had already drifted into the penalty area with his supercar!
Facing Pittman and Durant who came to defend, Chen Yan took off from outside the small penalty area, dodged and drifted through the gap, and scored the ball with a pull rod to reverse the basket!
After seeing Chen Yan's series of operations, Damian James felt his scalp numb.
When did this guy become so perverted?
"Chen's combination of man and ball, starting speed and finishing ability at the basket are like a different person!"
On the sidelines, Russell Spurman shouted excitedly while taking notes.
As the team's offensive coach, Russell Spurman is well aware of the offensive abilities of every Texas Longhorns player.
The coach on the side, Rick Barnes, did not speak, but silently focused more attention on Chen Yan.
After the ball was scored, Durant's expression was both surprised and excited. When Chen Yan returned to defense, he couldn't help but give him a high-five.
In his opinion, Chen Yan has really made progress, and he has made leaps and bounds!
In the next round of attack, Chen Yan quickly changed his crotch and then made an emergency stop in the middle distance!
Damian James was completely distracted by Chen Yanhuang. He wanted to jump to block Chen Yan, but his body did not allow him to do so. He could only watch the ball draw a wonderful arc in the air.
"Whoosh!"
Chen Yan's movements were so fast that in Damian James's eyes, it was like he was driving at 1.5 times speed!
Looking at Chen Yan's back, Damian James shook his head, is this kid cheating?
In the next few minutes, Chen Yan unreservedly demonstrated his comprehensive offensive skills.
21 who cuts through the air to get to the basket, takes a mid-range shot after pulling back under the crotch, and makes a smart throw to get to the basket with the ball.
In normal training matches, the second team can only be regarded as a sparring partner for the first team, but today, under the leadership of Chen Yan, the two sides actually played back and forth!
"Chen's impact is completely different from before, and his style of play is more aggressive than before!"
"The pull-up jump shot is very rhythmic and the feel is much softer."
"Chen has scored 12 points in a row. It seems that no one can stop him in today's training match!"
In just a few minutes, Chen Yan overturned the coaching staff's understanding of him, and everyone focused on Chen Yan!
Technical statistics are usually not done in training matches, but today is an exception!
The nature of today's training match changed after Chen Yan came on the stage.
It turned into a game where the coaching staff specially observed Chen Yan!
While the members of the coaching staff were communicating and discussing, Chen Yan successfully stole the ball again on the court!
Chen Yan's prediction was successfully started in advance, and he jumped high to intercept the ball passed by DJ Augustin to Durant in the air!
Chen Yan stabilized his body after landing and dribbled the ball alone past half court.
As soon as he reached the three-point line, two teammates consciously raised themselves up to cover him.
This treatment...
Through the few rounds just now, Chen Yan not only subverted the coaching staff's understanding of him, but also changed his teammates' impression of him!
Using the cover of his teammates, Chen Yan took the ball from the left at a 45-degree angle and drove into the inside.
Dexter Pittman quickly made up the defense, and Damian James followed behind Chen Yan after bypassing the screen.
The two of them were preparing to make dumplings for Chen Yan!
Faced with a double attack, Chen Yan did not panic at all.
With a sudden stop, he turned around and pulled the ball, pretending to go outside.
"boom!"
The moment Damian James and Pittman caught up, Chen Yan suddenly turned around with a ball!
The sudden change of pace caught Damian James off guard!
The next second, Damian James staggered and fell directly to the street!
"wooooow!!"
"Damian, how's it going? Is your ankle okay?"
The bench immediately erupted in screams!
This is the American basketball culture. Nothing excites the audience more than knocking off the opponent.
Leaning on Pittman, Chen Yan flicked his wrist and easily scored the ball.
After landing, Chen Yan smiled and pulled Damian James up from the ground.
At this moment, Chen Yan's smile looked like mockery to Damian James.
Damian James looked slightly embarrassed. The thing he regrets most now is that Chen Yan called him a top student when he came on the court, because Chen Yan really taught him a lesson in this training session.
Damian James was beaten to the point where he had no temper at all and even had the urge to cry.
Now there is only one thing that Damian can think about, and that is to finish the training match quickly and end the torture!
Looking at Damian James who was about to cry without tears, Durant wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Originally, Du Xiaoshuai wanted to put some slack on the defensive end so that Chen Yan could get a chance to enter the 12-man roster.
Now it seems that I have thought too much.
Don't talk about letting go, even if you try your best, you can't prevent Chen Yan!
...
...
"I think Chen should be kept, we need his impact and explosive scoring power!"
After the training game, offensive coach Russell Spliman suggested to head coach Rick Barnes with excitement.
"I agree, Chen is a very special player, and I think he can help the team in subsequent games." Another assistant coach Goodman also echoed.
After saying that, the two assistant coaches turned their attention to head coach Rick Barnes, because it was this man who really had the right to make the decision.
The atmosphere remained awkward for three seconds.
After feeling the eyes of the assistant coaches, head coach Rick Barnes, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke: "Why are you all looking at me? Put Chen on the roster quickly!"