vncnus Chapter 10 My defense was alright too.
Chapter 10 My defense was alright too.
The warm-up ended quickly.
Just as Coach Lute Olsen was giving his pre-match address, Li He spotted a familiar figure in the front row of the audience.
Standing at 2.26 meters tall, Yao Ming, nicknamed "The Great Wall of China," is about to finish his rookie season and stands out in the crowd.
I just finished playing against the Hornets and took some time to watch this game.
Li He had some prior interactions with Yao Ming; they weren't very close, but they knew each other.
Yao Ming stepped forward: "Brother, you played really well last game, keep it up this time!"
Li He replied with a smile, "Don't worry, Brother Yao, we're well prepared."
"Don't let your guard down, that Wade on the other side is really good."
"Understood. The coach has assigned me to match up against him."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lute Olsen gave his final words of advice.
Due to Li He's exceptional performance in the previous match, coach Lute Olsen promoted him directly to the starting lineup, replacing Salim Stoudemire.
Li He's opponent was none other than Dwyane Wade.
"This is a tough battle, everyone must fight with all their might!"
"Hansen, use all your strength to wear down Dwayne; this is a crucial part of the success!"
"If Dwyane runs a pick-and-roll, Channing, I need your strong delay!"
"Come on! The Marquette Golden Eagles can't stop us! Our goal is the championship!"
The Arizona Wildcats players shouted in unison, "Go for it!"
With the starting players of both teams taking to the court, this exciting NCAA annual semifinal officially began!
This game, which was broadcast live across the United States, attracted the attention of countless fans.
On the field.
Channing Frye and Robert Jackson were about to jump for the ball, while Li He and Wade squeezed together.
Looking at Li He, the fit and strong Wade couldn't help but recall the public opinion in the news and the comment about himself, "Not bad."
He was already unhappy, and he started criticizing before the match even began:
"Hey buddy, you're really cocky in front of the media. Just wait until you get slapped in the face!"
Wade's offensive ability is top-notch, and his defensive level is not bad either. He plans to thoroughly dominate Li He in the game, and then casually criticize him in the post-game interview, which will make him look very sophisticated.
Faced with this provocation, Li He remained unfazed and retorted with a question:
"Dwayne, have you finished your homework?"
Wade: ...
While the two were chatting, the game had already officially started. Channing Frye passed the ball to Luke Walton, and the Arizona Wildcats took the lead on offense.
Before they even reached their positions, Li He and Wade were already locked in combat.
The two men clashed repeatedly, pulling and tugging at each other, and the usually strong Wade found himself unable to overpower his opponent.
"Damn, is this guy really that good at fighting?"
As Jason Garnard and Luke Walton set a pick-and-roll, Iguodala had already set a solid off-ball screen for Li He, and the team's coordination was seamless.
Li He circled to the right at a 45-degree angle, and upon receiving the ball, he didn't hesitate at all, followed by a textbook-perfect shooting motion.
The basketball traced a perfect trajectory through the air and fell into the net!
Swish!
Three point hit!
"Oh...it's Hansen Lee again!"
"He continued his hot streak from the last game, hitting a three-pointer right at the start!"
"It's obvious this is a carefully orchestrated tactic by Coach Lute Olsen! Is Hansen Lee going to have another hot hand in this game?"
After Li He scored the team's first goal, the Wildcats' supporters sat down and continued to shout and celebrate, supporting the team.
Li He merely glanced at Wade before returning to defense.
As the leader of the Golden Eagles, Wade plays a significant role in the offense. Just now, Li He glanced at him, which Wade saw as a strange provocation.
He immediately asked his teammates for the ball, preparing to challenge Li He one-on-one.
"Dwayne signals to his teammates to pull them away!"
"Looks like he's quite unhappy with his previous comments about Hansen Lee!"
"Can Hansen Lee stop Dwyane? It seems unlikely!"
Iguodala shouted from behind, "Hansen, don't worry, if he breaks through, I'll cover for you!"
"Bro, my defense wasn't bad either!"
Li He would never allow Wade to have an easy one-on-one opportunity. In 2003, hand-checking was still in use and was a powerful tool for perimeter defenders.
Wade's explosive power was indeed very strong, but just as he changed direction and accelerated to get past Li He, Li He's exaggeratedly long arms came up, causing Wade to be stunned. With this momentary delay, Li He quickly adjusted his footwork, established an effective defensive position, and directly kept Wade out.
Wade's offense was very hampered by the intensity of his arm and body work.
"Such intense defensive pressure!" Wade frowned.
"Beautiful defense!"
"I didn't expect Hansen Lee to be so good on the defensive end!"
"That damn wingspan and physicality are a nightmare for perimeter players!"
Unwilling to accept defeat, Wade immediately turned around and leaned back, attempting to force a shot.
But Li He had already anticipated this.
After leaping up with all his might, his 2.21-meter wingspan blocked Wade's attack!
Iguodala made a quick steal, and Li He, who had blocked the shot, didn't hesitate and launched a fast break!
After receiving a pass from Iguodala, Li He had no one in front of him and completed a one-handed dunk!
Wow!
Whoosh!
"An explosive dunk!"
"Hansen Lee delivered an outstanding start, helping the team take a 5-0 lead!"
"Steve Novak's three-pointer just missed! The Wildcats' offense is on fire again!"
"Luke Walton receives the ball at the top of the arc, and Hansen Lee and Dwyane are tangled up!"
"The two of them are really going at it!"
"Hanson Lee is holding his own in physical duels! A beautiful back-cut after the contact! Luke Walton's pass was also perfectly timed!"
"A three-pointer from the top of the arc!"
"Oh my God!"
"Another three-pointer?!"
"Hanson For Threeeeeee...!"
Less than two minutes into the game, thanks to Li He's hot hand, the Wildcats took an 8-0 lead over the Golden Eagles.
Wade gained no advantage in his matchup against Li He, prompting Marquette University coach Tom Klein to call a timeout!
Coach Lute Olsen was extremely excited. From the start of the game, it was clear that Hansen Lee had the advantage in his matchup against Dwyane Wade!
That statement, "I'll defend Dwyane one-on-one," wasn't just empty boasting; he genuinely has the ability to do so!
in the audience.
In just two minutes of the match, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West gave it high praise:
"This young man's shooting is definitely NBA level."
"I didn't expect his defense to be this good too. His lower body is very solid, and his defensive judgment, positioning, and physical strength are all excellent!"
"If he continues this performance, his draft stock will absolutely skyrocket!"
Although Li He scored 10 three-pointers and 37 points in the last game, his stock on the draft website did not rise too quickly.
The reason is simple: media and websites evaluate players based on a combination of performances in various matches. A single match is somewhat unpredictable and not enough to cause Li He's market value to skyrocket.
"Dwyane Wade is in big trouble," Heat general manager Pat Riley thought to himself.