After a while, UCLA started warm-up training. Harden and Xu Yong also found a comfortable position and observed through the gap on the bench.
Then, they didn't speak for a long time.
This group of people on the field are not only talented, but also very tactically literate.
What surprised Xu Yong again was that Westbrook was different from his impression of rushing inside with a kick of the accelerator. At that time, Westbrook played very reasonably in the positional battle.
This is probably also related to UCLA's offensive system. They use the UCLA pass-and-cut tactic invented by John Wooden. In this system, the point guard does not need to organize the offense too much. It is more about Love at the fifth position. Things to do.
But when UCLA started full-court training, one thing about Westbrook was consistent with his impression, that is, the speed of switching offenses is really fast.
Basically, as soon as the defender gets the rebound, he has already passed the half court. As long as the ball is given, it is basically a dunk.
That's right, this guy can't knock down any dunks in training, as if he has endless passion in his body.
That is, after Westbrook completed another dunk, the two sat back.
"I've known Russell since I was ten years old. It was a basketball training camp in 1998, and we became friends after that." Harden said.
Xu Yong looked at Harden in surprise. He had the impression that Harden and Westbrook didn't become teammates until they arrived in the Thunder. He didn't expect the two to know each other so early?
"I know his story," Harden continued.
"Story?" Xu Yong became more and more curious.
"Did you notice the bracelet on his wrist?" Harden asked after nodding.
"Bracelet?" Xu Yong said and stood up again, searching for Westbrook on the court. He soon found it and found a bracelet on the latter's hand.
A plain-looking plastic white bracelet.
"That's why he plays with such passion." Harden continued after Xu Yong sat down again.
Xu Yong's curiosity was piqued. He didn't understand why an ordinary bracelet could make Westbrook so passionate.
Then, Harden told him a story, or a piece of the past.
When Westbrook was young, he had a very good friend named Casey Barrs. The two lived across the street and went to school and played together.
Of course, more often than not, it is Bars who teaches Westbrook skills and helps the latter grow.
Because Westbrook was very thin at the time, but Barrs was very tall. He was 2.01 meters tall when he was a sophomore in high school, and his skills were very good. He was as famous as "Little Coach" Durant and was known as the most outstanding young player in California. , had a 50-point performance in a high school game.
"In his sophomore year of high school, Russell had started to grow taller. He and Casey agreed to enter UCLA and then participated in the NBA draft together."
Xu Yong listened and nodded. Needless to say, Westbrook is now playing at UCLA and will become an NBA superstar. According to Harden's description, Bales will also become an NBA player and has a bright future. That kind of thing.
But he searched his memory, and there was no such person as Bals.
"Then the accident happened," Harden continued. "During a game in 2004, Casey collapsed. He woke up briefly because of a dilated heart, but he eventually died that day."
Xu Yong was stunned when he heard this.
He did not expect this result, and unlike others, he felt a strong resonance at the moment.
Because in a sense, he and Bales are the same.
The only difference is that his basketball dream was ruined due to illness, but Bales, who was equally talented, lost his life directly.
"Maybe he was reborn in another world." Xu Yong said.
Harden glanced at Xu Yong when he heard this, and then continued to tell.
After Bales died, Westbrook was hit hard. He stopped talking to anyone for a while, but in the end, he did not choose to give up.
He first made this bracelet with the words "KB3" printed on it. KB is the abbreviation of Casey Bales, and "3" is Bales' jersey number.
Then, he began to use Bales's playing style.
Bales likes to attack the basket, and he dunks like crazy during games;
Barrs loved to yell, and he roared at the crowd after every dunk.
"He told me that Casey didn't die, but lived in him and became a part of his life. He was not only playing for himself, but he was also playing for Casey, and they were still playing together. "
Harden's words touched Xu Yong a lot.
It turns out that Westbrook's violent style of play throughout his life was actually because of Bales.
Westbrook is lucky to have a friend like Bales, but equally, Bales is lucky to have a friend like Westbrook.
He stood up again and looked towards the court. At this time, Westbrook changed to the substitute group.
Mbah a Moute's suffocating defense completed the steal for his teammates. Collison flew down as fast as lightning, but the moment he made a fast break layup, Westbrook chased after him to block the shot and fanned the ball out of the court. After landing, He roared angrily at Collison, and then glanced at the bracelet subconsciously.
"Do we really have a chance to win?" Harden asked again at this time.
Although Xu Yong said before that they would have a chance if they had an advantage at the start, but with Westbrook here, UCLA not only has better player talent and tactical literacy than them, but also has better mental attributes than them.
This is probably why UCLA was able to beat its opponents by an average of nearly 20 points per game in previous games. They have become extremely mature.
Can they really defeat such an opponent?
"How will you know if you don't try?" Xu Yong turned around and asked, still looking confident.
Facing a strong enemy, he knows that he may not be able to win, but he will not question it, let alone feel fear.
Because the greatest charm of basketball does not lie in how many championships you win or how many points you score, but in challenging the strong, then improving, and then challenging stronger opponents.
…
That night, Wells Fargo Arena was sold out.
There were many UCLA fans at the scene, but more of them were Arizona State University fans. They held signs high, and some even held Devils' exclusive flags, showing the enthusiasm of Tempe fans.
Of course, in such a game, it’s not just the fans who come.
In the middle of the auditorium, there were a few guys in suits and leather bags with laptops. Their attire was obviously different from the fans around them.
They are scouts from the NBA, and tonight's game will focus on their investigation targets, Westbrook and Love from UCLA, and Harden from Arizona State University.
It wasn't even just the scouts, because the crowd was already buzzing before the players from both sides entered the court.
Three familiar figures entered the field. They were the three core players of the Suns team next door: Marion, Stoudemire and Nash!
Especially Nash, the "Son of the Wind" and the two-time MVP winner, caused a stir on the scene.
The Suns have been championship contenders for several consecutive seasons and are very strong. In addition, this is Phoenix, the Suns' "home".
Their appearance gave this already highly anticipated game more to watch.
For example, who are they here for?
The pre-match warm-up was over and the opening ceremony entered. The starting lineups of both sides were also announced one after another.
On the Bruins side, No. 2 Darren Collison, who is 1.85 meters tall, and No. 0 Westbrook, who is 1.90 meters tall, partner in the backcourt. On the forward line are No. 3 Josh Shipp, who is 1.96 meters tall, and Josh Shipp, who is 2.03 meters tall. The center is No. 23 Luke Richard Mbah a Moute, and the center is No. 42 Kevin Love, who is 2.03 meters tall and 117 kilograms.
The Devils are led by "Satan" Xu Yong and "Bar" Harden, plus Ayers, Shipp and Glasser.
"Steve, why did you choose this game? It's hard for the Devils to win." Marion looked at the players who had started to play and couldn't help but ask.
As the Suns player who is most familiar with the NCAA, he knows how dominant UCLA is in the Pac10 League.
"Sean, the more difficult the game, the more you can see a player's ability." Nash said with a smile.
These words made Stoudemire on the side couldn't help but nod. What is more important than victory or defeat is performance in adversity.
Because a momentary victory or defeat cannot determine the future, but if you have the quality to persevere in the face of adversity, you are destined to achieve something in the future.
