Almighty legend life

Chapter 26 The Elite Eight

The UCLA Bruins, who were advancing all the way in the game, reached the "Sweet Sixteen" again, and the word agent on the head of the acting head coach George Krent is basically sure to be removed.The excellent performance of the Bruins after entering the championship has also attracted the attention of major media and various NBA teams.The number one star of the Bruins team, Eddie O'Bonno, is the most media-focused player in the team. This senior player with outstanding physical fitness, comprehensive skills and experience is expected to hit the championship seat in this year's NBA draft.The main point guard Teyous? Edney also attracted the attention of some teams, but due to his short height of less than 1.8 meters, it greatly affected his attractiveness to various NBA teams. Because of this height, whether it is Playing that position will become a defensive loophole for the team.Czech center George Zidek has also attracted the attention of various NBA teams. In this era, a big man over [-] meters tall, as long as he is not too bad at confrontation, will cause many teams to loot him.Liu Han's excellent shooting ability has also attracted the attention of some NBA teams, including the Indiana Pacers, the team of Reggie Miller from UCLA. They have been trying to find a suitable one for Reggie Miller. substitute.

The next opponent of the Bruins is the University of Utah, and they will go on an expedition to Salt Lake City.

In the training hall of the University of Utah basketball team in Salt Lake City, the team is conducting regular training under the leadership of head coach Rick Majors.In this team that only emphasizes confrontation and defense, a strong yellow man is training hard.

"Hey, Ma, have you heard? Our next opponent has one of your compatriots. I heard that he is very good at three-pointers. Do you know him?" Andre Miller, who was resting during training, turned to his own Teammate **** said.

Ma Jian, once the main small forward of the Huaguo national team, is a Hebei man who is desperate for his basketball dream.After participating in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Ma Jian resolutely set foot on the other side of the ocean regardless of the penalty decision of the Chinese National Basketball Association to permanently disqualify him from the national team.Before coming to the United States, UCLA had promised to give Ma Jian a full sports scholarship for his outstanding performance in the Olympics, but later gave up on him due to various reasons. Nearly desperate, he eventually joined a "small" college, Utah Valley Community College, with the help of Utah head coach Rick Majors.After two years of hard life, Ma Jian finally joined the University of Utah with his outstanding performance.

"There are nearly one billion people in Huaguo, and I can't know all of them, Andre. As for UCLA, I will show them a good look in the competition." Ma Jian, who has lived in the United States for three years, can now speak fluent English.

In the Delta Air Lines Center arena, the UCLA Bruins are undergoing adaptive training.George Krent, who was standing on the sidelines, was imagining the future of the team smugly.

"George, how do you play the next game? Utah is not a good team to deal with. Their point guard Andre? Miller is a very good player with a high IQ. The center will become the opponent's main point of attack." After George Clent took office, the original physical coach Reed Blake served as an assistant coach.

"Indeed, on the point of Teyous, Andre Miller will definitely choose to use his body to fight hard, and Utah's rookie Van Horn's shooting ability is also quite good. We must have missed him in the game. To At that time, I will arrange Han as the starting point guard, and I believe he will definitely give Andre Miller some surprises, and Teyous can effectively bring out the power of George Zidek when he is on the bench."

"Oh, by the way, George, do you still remember Ma three years ago? Is that the Huaguo small forward who failed to join UCLA due to eligibility reasons?" Reed talked about the incident that made George feel very regretful. , George was very optimistic about *** back then, but he still failed to join UCLA in the end.

"Well, I remember, that incident is indeed a bit regrettable, why, is he at the University of Utah now?"

"Yes, he is now Van Horn's backup... what a pity." Reid didn't know whether he was pitying for **** or UCLA.

"Hey, Han, your compatriots may play in the game tonight." Teyous, who has been in school for four years, generally knows the situation of ****.

"Oh, I'm the only Chinese in our team, who else? New here?" Liu Han was a little puzzled by what Teyous said.

"Han, I think it's necessary for you to learn English again, hahaha, I'm talking about your compatriots in the University of Utah team." Liu Han's sometimes inadvertent reactions will always bring joy to his teammates.

"Oh, is it? Then I will definitely say hello to them. I really haven't seen many people from our place here."

"Every day is like you, either in the arena or at home. How can you meet other compatriots, but we are really a little worried that you will practice crazy one day."

In the evening, the Delta Airlines Center Arena was packed with spectators. In Utah, people are always passionate about two things, basketball and religion.

Liu Han noticed that the compatriots in white ball uniforms opposite him had a strong and vigorous figure.

"Hello, my name is Liu Han. I'm eighteen this year, uh, no, I'm nineteen." Liu Han was very happy to see his compatriots on the court, so he chose to say hello.

"Oh, it's you, my name is Ma Jian, hello." Ma Jian seemed a little less enthusiastic towards Liu Han.

Liu Han usually accepts inquiries passively, but today he met Ma Jian who had some resentment towards UCLA. Liu Han couldn't help but scratched his head in embarrassment when he couldn't continue talking.

Ma Jian couldn't help regretting Liu Han's silly actions.It seems that this little brother is an honest man, Ma Jian thought in his heart.

"We'll play well when we get on the field, and we'll talk later when the game is over."

Bruins starting in this game are: point guard Liu Han; shooting guard Sam? Jackson; small forward Eddie? O'Bonno; power forward James? Carr;

Ma Jian sat on the bench at the University of Utah. Since the arrival of Van Horn, who has excellent shooting ability, he has been on the bench for a long time.

Ma Jian is a little curious about this "honest man" compatriot who can serve as the team's starting point guard. He has been educated in domestic basketball since he was a child, and has also received long-term training in the United States, so he is very familiar with the newcomers from China. It is also clear how far it is from the young people trained in the United States.

Liu Han was closely defended by the opponent's point guard Andre Miller at the beginning of the game. Andre Miller's physical fitness is very good, and he followed Liu Han all the way at the beginning of the game.It seems that the opponent, the University of Utah, also has a deep understanding of the Bruins and knows that Liu Han has outstanding shooting ability.

After Liu Han took the ball steadily across the half court, he handed the ball to his teammate Sam Jackson. He started to move to the left bottom corner. This is the usual opening tactic arranged by the Bruins for Liu Han.

Liu Han began to run along the bottom line to the other corner.During his running, he found that the opponent's defender was following him very closely, and he couldn't completely shake off the defense to receive the ball.

Thomson of the Bruins team in the center made a fake move to the baseline to cover Liu Han, and then suddenly ran back to the left corner. Sam Jackson, who was holding the ball, passed the ball to the defense immediately. The player's Thomson, Thomson caught the ball and made a mid-range shot, making a steady two-pointer.This tactic was specially arranged by George Krent. He knew that Liu Han now had a deterrent force, and the tactic of the center covering Liu Han had been used many times in previous games. The head coach of the University of Utah They will definitely notice this, but they will certainly not think that this unknown backup center of the Bruins has a good mid-range shot.

The Bruins' tactical changes in the opening game made Utah head coach Rick Majors into a dilemma. He knew Liu Han's role on the court very well, just like Van Horn in his own team.

University of Utah's offense, Liu Han tightly entangled the opponent's point guard Andre? Miller.Liu Han, who is taller and longer than the opponent, puts a lot of pressure on Andre Miller. He has never seen such a difficult defense in the game.

Van Horn in the University of Utah team is known as the "Second Bird", with excellent shooting ability and high ball quotient. After receiving a pass from his teammate Andre Miller, he continued to pass the ball. The fake move sent Eddie O'Bonno flying away who was defending him, and then he shot a three-pointer directly.

Here, Liu Han successfully got rid of Andre Miller's defense and hit a three-pointer in the offense of the Bruins.

**** When he saw Liu Han's performance off the court, he was very surprised, because Liu Han did not show the slightest discomfort, which was completely different from what he imagined Liu Han would look like on the court.

In the offense, the University of Utah relied on Van Horn's breakthrough and scored two points from the center dunk.Liu Han successfully restrained Andre Miller in defense, but Van Horn also showed his own strength in offense.

After the Bruins served from the backcourt, Liu Han dribbled the ball steadily for halftime. Center Thomson mentioned the outside line to cover Liu Han. The University of Utah did not switch defenses. Liu Han caught Andre Miller and shot directly after a short delay. Three points, hit again, 5 to 8.

Returning to the University of Utah's offense, Van Horn once again showed his power, hitting a three-pointer through Eddie O'Bonno's defense, 8-8 tied, and the game fell into a state of anxiety from the very beginning.

George Krent was confident on the sidelines, but the opponent's coach Rick Majors seemed a little anxious, because he knew the strength of his substitute, and he also knew that the Bruins hadn't fully revealed their cards.

Ma Jian was surprised by the strength of his "honest man" compatriot. He was very aware of the strength of Van Horn who drove him to the bench. Being able to compete with Van Horn on the field for three points is enough to see that his compatriot Excellent shooting ability, and what surprised Ma Jian the most was Liu Han's not inferior confrontation ability on the court. Domestic players are often very uncomfortable when they first encounter the fierce confrontational game mode of the United States.

In the game, the two teams came and went very quickly. The Bruins relied on the excellent performance of Liu Han and Eddie O'Bonno to score 8 points in the first 22 minutes of the first half, while the University of Utah The players are not inferior, Van Horn scored 14 points alone, the two teams scored 20 to 22, and the Bruins took a slight lead.In the first 8 minutes of the game, Liu Han made 4 shots from outside the three-point line, all of which were hits, and Van Horn also hit three three-pointers.

(End of this chapter)