vncnus Chapter 49 When people are angry, they really do laugh.
Chapter 49 When people are angry, they really do laugh.
Lawrence spent another two hours practicing shooting with Duze before the two returned to the hotel together.
Du Ze had just finished washing up and hadn't even dried his hair when Lawrence's thunderous roar came from outside. He poked his head out and yelled, "What are you all howling about?"
Lawrence sat on the sofa, veins bulging in his neck: "To hell with Bleacher Report! They actually think we're the weakest final team in tournament history."
Upon hearing this, Du Ze paused slightly, then instantly became interested. He quickly walked out, abandoning his hair dryer, and asked with a grin while wiping his hair with a towel, "What do you mean?"
Actually, what he was more curious about was what the other party had said that made Lawrence so furious.
Lawrence said angrily, "He said we'd get beaten black and blue by North Carolina, and wouldn't even recognize our own mothers."
Their opponent in the finals was the renowned University of North Carolina, a true powerhouse in the NCAA, which has maintained its competitiveness almost every year and boasts four championship titles in its history, a truly remarkable achievement.
of course.
It is most famous for being the alma mater of Michael Jordan, the true "goat" of basketball.
This season, they achieved an astonishing record of 34 wins and 4 losses, and as the number one seed in the United States, their strength is beyond doubt.
But Duze was even more curious, as they had demonstrated formidable strength since the start of the tournament, defeating Memphis and Michigan State, two of the favorites to win the title.
Even if North Carolina has a deep roster and unparalleled strength, why are they being criticized so much?
He didn't understand and scoffed, asking, "When did Bleacher Report become so unprofessional? What makes them think we'll get thrashed?"
Lawrence's angry little eyes suddenly became a bit clearer: "Um... well?"
Du Ze frowned, a thought flashing through his mind: Could it be...?
"Stop stammering and just give me a clear answer."
Lawrence said cautiously, "Don't be angry if I tell you."
Du Ze nodded: "Hurry up."
Lawrence cleared his throat, then glanced furtively at Du Ze before saying, "He said our inside game is like a club, and we'll be riddled with holes by the best inside player in the country."
Du Ze listened attentively, but soon he realized something was wrong and looked at Lawrence in astonishment: "When he said 'idiot,' was he referring to me?"
After asking that question, he burst out laughing.
It turns out that after all this time, Bleacher Report was just using him as a scapegoat.
You son of a bitch...
Sure enough, people are prone to laughing out loud when they're angry.
Lawrence answered very tactfully, "Perhaps it refers to our entire inside game?"
Du Ze ignored the ugly guy, quickly searched his memory, and muttered to himself, "North Carolina? The number one center? If I remember correctly, it should be Tyler Hansbrough?"
Lawrence nodded repeatedly: "It's him. But to be honest, this guy is really something. This season he's averaging 20.7 points and 8.1 rebounds, and his overall performance is very strong. He was selected to the All-American First Team last year, and he should be able to do so this year as well. He has a total of 2872 points in his four years of college, is the ACC All-Time Leading Scorer, the all-time Leading Scorer in North Carolina history, and the best center in the nation. He truly deserves his reputation."
Even someone as stubborn as Lawrence acknowledges Hansbrough's ability, which shows just how prestigious this top center in the nation is and how consistent his performance is.
But Du Ze boldly declared, "Wow! That's amazing! I'm actually looking forward to the game the day after tomorrow. I hope this top center doesn't kneel down and call me 'daddy'."
Hansbrough?
He should have been selected by the Pacers with the 13th pick this year. This white center is indeed very strong. In his four years of college, he played his signature game every year.
but.
This short and stocky center has terrible lateral quickness, no explosiveness, no three-point shooting, and no ball-handling and penetration ability. He's purely a floor general in the paint, relying on mid-range shots.
All his advantages can be summed up in a few words: toughness, confrontation, and fighting. In slow-paced games, as long as low-post play is allowed, Hansbrough can often deliver an outstanding performance.
Dealing with players like that isn't actually that difficult.
By utilizing speed, athleticism, and outside shooting, one can launch single-target attacks that the enemy cannot withstand.
Lawrence clearly thought Duze was exaggerating. While he was emotionally supportive, he was somewhat perfunctory in his words: "That's right, he may be the best center in the country, but I don't think you need to be afraid of him at all. You can even handle a big man like Thabeet, so what is Hansbrough?"
Du Ze tossed the towel aside and asked, "Besides the inside player being a dud, what else did he say?"
Lawrence coughed lightly: "You said that we were at a complete disadvantage in every position matchup, and that we got to where we are today by sheer luck."
"That's what makes me angry, you bastard! We've put in so much effort, overcome so many obstacles, and in the end, he completely negates all our hard work and our success. I feel incredibly offended."
Du Ze was speechless for a moment.
You feel offended by this?
Or is it a huge offense?
They named him by name, saying he was a blockhead and would be completely outmatched by the nation's top center, with such certainty and conviction.
Did he say anything?
If anyone was offended, it was him, okay?
But he didn't have much to say, only leaving out this one sentence: "Let's see who's the best in the final."
I picked up the towel, just about to blow-dry my hair.
He suddenly stopped again: "By the way, what's the name of that Bleacher Report reporter?"
Although Bleacher Report is not a mainstream official media outlet, it still wields considerable influence, covering various mainstream sports such as the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NCAA.
It is a third-party market-oriented sports media, focusing on the perspective of fans, data analysis, breaking news, and stories of star players. Its content is more down-to-earth and has a strong ability to spread.
In addition, it also provides event previews and recaps, player data, trade rumors, and historical reviews, making it a pioneer in vertical streaming media.
Such a top-tier sports media outlet has done something so absurd.
All he wants to remember now is the reporter's name.
Lawrence scrolled through his computer screen and replied after a moment: "That bastard's name is Mark Rollins."
Du Ze nodded, indicating that he understood, but he still couldn't help but comment on the name: "This name sounds like it belongs to a scumbag."
of course.
He actually knew that the primary goal of these media reports was to generate traffic.
They'll stop at nothing to get views; kneeling down and calling someone "daddy" isn't out of the question.
But being called a blockhead was something he couldn't accept.
He'll show Mark Rollins who the real idiot is.