Chapter 377: Chapter 289: Do as You Please and Play!
Little Thomas is recently the most inspiring player in the NBA, leading the Celtics to an impressive 6-2 record with his height of 175 cm in the new season.
Whenever it comes to the crucial fourth quarter, Little Thomas always steps up to take control of the game, making fans eager to watch this guy.
Before the match between the two teams, a reporter asked Little Thomas, "Will you beat Zeng Xingyang in this game?"
Little Thomas unabashedly said, "Of course, watch me perform and defeat them."
The Nuggets made a lineup change; Gordon jumped too high in the last match and sprained his ankle, with Grant taking his place.
The Nuggets lineup consists of: Zeng Xingyang, Butler, Pope, Grant, and Jokic.
Although Gordon is resting, it doesn’t feel like the Nuggets’ strength has dropped much, as Grant seems to be a similar type of player to Gordon.
He can finish at the rim and defend, with great talent.
The Celtics sent out Little Thomas, Bradley, Turner, Salingar, and Olynyk.
Compared to the Nuggets, this lineup’s players have more functionalism, with each player having their own issues to some extent.
Zeng Xingyang looked at the opposing lineup, achieving a 6-2 record, not feeling that they were strong but rather that the East was just weak.
Jokic and Olynyk jumped for the ball; Jokic didn’t get the ball, and Olynyk nudged it to Little Thomas.
Little Thomas dribbled to the frontcourt, with Zeng Xingyang lowering his center of gravity to guard him.
Little Thomas always seemed comfortable playing with a physical disadvantage; he didn’t consider going one-on-one with Zeng Xingyang at all, instead calling for a screen.
Olynyk moved up, blocking Zeng Xingyang, while Little Thomas changed direction to break through.
Bradley made an inner cut, and Little Thomas passed the ball to him while advancing.
Bradley caught the ball and took off.
Bradley leaped into the air, adjusted the pace to avoid Jokic, and banked the ball in with one hand.
to 2.
The crowd quickly cheered; that play was very beautiful.
Nuggets’ offense.
Zeng Xingyang dribbled to the frontcourt.
Bradley defended, Zeng Xingyang didn’t attack directly and instead passed to Jokic.
Jokic held the ball high, then handed it to Butler.
After a reverse run, Zeng Xingyang shed Bradley and cut in, Butler lobbed the ball into the air.
Zeng Xingyang extended his long arm to catch the ball; he was very close to the basket, and with a follow-through, he slammed it.
"Bang!"
The ball was dunked solidly into the hoop.
to 2.
Butler continued to show his worth in joining the Nuggets; besides Jokic, he can also play a role in assisting Zeng Xingyang.
Celtics’ offense.
Little Thomas dribbled to the frontcourt and passed to Turner in the low post.
Turner backed Pope down and then faced the basket with the ball.
Pope was unaccustomed to Turner’s dominant hand and was left behind after a crossover, bursting past on the left.
Before Jokic could arrive, Turner soared for a layup and scored reliably.
to 4.
Nuggets’ offense.
Jokic received the ball and dribbled past half-court.
Then passed to Zeng Xingyang.
Zeng Xingyang had barely taken the ball when Pope swiftly came over to set a screen.
Pope set the screen because Little Thomas was defending him.
A single screen, and Little Thomas was quickly switched to guard Zeng Xingyang.
Little Thomas got right up close to Zeng Xingyang, refusing to back down physically, constantly reaching for the steal.
Little Thomas’ movements weren’t clean, with all sorts of pulling, but the referee didn’t call it.
Annoyed after checking the referee, Zeng Xingyang signaled his teammates to clear out.
Little Thomas shouted at Zeng Xingyang, "Don’t think you can score on me."
Zeng Xingyang ignored Little Thomas and adjusted his rhythm while dribbling.
"Boom"
"Boom"
Little Thomas attempted to snatch the ball, but his hands were really too short.
Zeng Xingyang took the opportunity to sidestep, widening the gap with Little Thomas.
Then decisively pushed off to jump.
Released the ball.
Little Thomas tried hard to interfere.
But it had little effect.
"Swish!"
The ball went right through the net.
to 4
"You’re too short."
After scoring, Zeng Xingyang quickly taunted Little Thomas, then lowered his hand and glided back to his own half.
Zeng Xingyang quickly responded to Little Thomas after scoring.
Zeng Xingyang’s tone was full of contempt.
Celtics’ offense.
Little Thomas dribbled to the frontcourt, eager for a response.
But he remained rational, knowing that forcing a one-on-one with Zeng Xingyang would get him blocked immediately.
Consecutive passes.
But the Nuggets’ defensive rotation was very quick, leaving no chance for other players.
Turner wanted to attack Pope, but with Pope on guard, he couldn’t break through.
Turner could only pass back to Little Thomas for a solution.
Little Thomas called for a double screen, trapping Zeng Xingyang between Salingar and Olynyk.
Jokic came out to switch on Little Thomas; Little Thomas quickly pooled the ball and stepped sideways, creating a gap with Jokic, then shot a fadeaway three.
Little Thomas’ move had no effect on guards, but Jokic, being slightly slower, couldn’t catch up.
"Swish!"
to 7
"Your defense is really bad." Little Thomas shouted at Zeng Xingyang.
"Shut up."
Little Thomas was provoked by Zeng Xingyang’s "shut up".
Why is it that I scored, yet you’re more arrogant than I am?
Little Thomas bottled up his energy; if there’s another mismatch, he’ll stop Zeng Xingyang.
He unwittingly considered the matchup with Zeng Xingyang a mismatch.
The Celtics retreated very quickly on defense, and their overall defense was good.
Bradley continued defending Zeng Xingyang.
This time, Pope’s screen didn’t succeed, failing to create a Zeng Xingyang versus Little Thomas showdown.
Zeng Xingyang passed the ball to Jokic at the free throw line.
Jokic organized his teammates’ positioning; this time, Zeng Xingyang and Pope executed a crossing run, later finding a chance to press against Little Thomas.
On the left low post, Zeng Xingyang turned and firmly backed him down.
Jokic lobbed the ball high to Butler, who then lofted it to Zeng Xingyang.
Little Thomas lowered his head to lock onto Zeng Xingyang’s waist.
Zeng Xingyang didn’t score with his back turned; instead, he turned, raised the ball over his head, and mimicked a powerful pass.
Little Thomas couldn’t see Zeng Xingyang’s upper motion and assumed he passed to the basket, quickly turning to check the basket.
But where was the ball?
Grant didn’t have the ball under the basket.
The baseline crowd couldn’t help but chuckle; it’s a trick they usually use to tease kids.
Zeng Xingyang applied it on the court.
Once Little Thomas realized, he quickly rushed back to Zeng Xingyang, but by then Zeng Xingyang had passed the ball.
It went to Butler cutting diagonally.
Butler sliced through the Celtics’ defense like a scalpel to the basket, finishing an easy layup.
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