When your defense can no longer limit your opponent with hard work, the only choice you can make is to attack with the opponent.
That's the Devils' choice, too.
In fact they did pretty well.
The Tigers' strength on defense is that they have Dorsey inside, but the Devils' offense is focused on the perimeter rather than the interior.
Harden can not only cause damage in the interior, but also shoot from the outside. Xu Yong can not only attack the basket, but his outside shooting is also very stable.
The Devils showed enough strength and they bit the score in the first period.
However, after the two sides entered the rotation, the point difference was gradually widened.
The Tigers' substitute strength is significantly stronger than that of the Devils. The most intuitive statistic is that the Tigers have 13 players on the team, 8 of whom are current four-star high school students. This number is second only to Kansas' 10 There are only three players on the Devils team: Harden, Xu Yong and Ayers.
Sandek could only resort to the method of killing the main force in advance, which made them only trail by single digits in the first half.
But in the second half, as the players' physical fitness was exhausted, the point difference inevitably widened.
The Devils players can deeply feel that the University of Memphis they faced is a level better than UCLA.
With the last minute of the game left and the Devils still trailing by more than ten points, Sandeck finally replaced all the main players.
At this time, they were already sweating profusely, and even Xu Yong was exhausted.
Sandeck tapped the players on the field one by one on the shoulders.
From being nowhere on the list at the beginning of the season to playing against the dominant University of Memphis until the end, they have done what they can.
After sitting on the bench, Harden and Xu Yong both looked at the court, but their thoughts were already wandering.
If they fail to beat Memphis, their draft stock won't change much.
In other words, Xu Yong's original plan was not realized.
Harden's expression was one of disappointment. Just like what he thought at the beginning, the sooner he enters the NBA, the better for him, but if he only enters the NBA as a role player, he will not be reconciled.
In contrast, Xu Yong's expression looked much calmer.
Harden asked him that day, and he told him his plan, but as a reborn person, he naturally would not leave himself no escape route.
And his retreat, his plan B, is to play for another year.
This is why he didn't say anything when Yao Ming persuaded him, because what Yao Ming said was also part of the plan.
If he had chosen the [Krypton Gold System], there is no doubt that he would directly choose to participate in the draft this year. As long as he can enter the NBA, it will be a matter of time.
But now he has no system. [Injury immunity] only gives him more training time, so if he can't get a good training environment, it is better to stay in the NCAA and continue to improve himself.
According to his draft report, as a small forward, he lacks offensive methods. If he enriches his offensive methods next season, it can be expected that his pick will rise sharply.
And this year is a big draft year, next year won’t be.
Although in history, the 2009 rookie class has produced All-Stars such as Griffin, Harden, Curry, DeRozan, etc., but that was after the eyes were opened. In history, it is a standard draft year.
The draft is based on potential, and a major factor that represents potential is age. Griffin and Harden are both in their second year, and Curry is in his third year. As for DeRozan, he is the same age as Harden and entered a year later. University.
In addition to these people, high-ranking rookies such as Thabeet, Jordan Hill, Terrence Williams, and Tyler Hansbrough are all "leftover" from their junior and senior years.
So if he plays for another year, he is not only expected to hit the lottery, but may even have a chance to enter the top ten.
Moreover, staying in the NCAA to enrich his offensive skills will also allow him to better adapt to the NBA.
"beep!"
The final whistle sounded, and the score on the court was fixed at 77-63. The players stood up one after another for the final handshake ceremony.
Xu Yong also temporarily withdrew his thoughts and shook hands with people from the University of Memphis one by one.
When shaking hands with Rose, Rose took the initiative to bump shoulders with him.
This move came from Rose's approval.
Seeing this scene, although Xu Yong had already made the decision to play for another year, Xu Yong couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
If Rose were replaced by anyone else in the current NCAA league, the Devils would actually have a chance.
But Rose's talent and personal ability are too strong.
Yes, Rose did not shoot, but he could rely on breakthroughs to win the youngest MVP in history in his third year as a rookie.
This achievement is not inferior to Wade, who won the championship FMVP in the third grade.
Rose.
His mind was filled with images of Rose changing directions without slowing down.
Compared to others, this move is really hardcore, and it's like burning your knees while playing.
But at this moment, he felt something poked him in the head.
Hardcore style?
[Injury immunity]?
Rose's knee was scrapped after his rookie season, but he won't!
No, not only changing direction without slowing down, he can also learn all those playing styles that hurt the body, because he will not be injured.
When others are dunking, they still have to watch the landing. From now on, he will throw them into the air first, and there will be no such thing as injuries on the ground.
When others are shooting, you need to be careful with the defender's feet. He can completely ignore it. You can stretch your feet as long as I don't step on them and break them!
In an instant, a door to a new world slowly opened towards him.
The seeds of Satan in his body are really about to awaken!
After the handshake ceremony, Xu Yong returned to the locker room with his teammates.
After a while, Sandek came to the locker room.
"I'm proud of you, kids, you've done your best." Completely different from his usual stern image, Sandeck's eyes were full of tenderness at this time.
He has been strict with his players throughout the season and constantly put pressure on them, but it is not because he likes it, but because he knows that only in that way can this team with low talent go further. Far.
Now, this group of players has exceeded his expectations, and he has nothing to criticize.
"I have prepared an Xbox 360 for each of you in Tempe. After you go back, you can relax for a while and then think about what to do next. Kids, I am proud of coaching you." Sandeck smiled said.
He finally looked at Harden and Xu Yong.
Naturally, he is also concerned about the future of his players. Harden and Xu Yong are first-round prospects. They can already choose to leave college and enter the NBA.
After finishing speaking, Sandek left the locker room.
Xu Yong followed him out.
"coach."
Sandek turned around when he heard the shouting and saw it was Xu Yong, looking at him doubtfully.
"Coach, I decided to play for another year." Xu Yong said.
Sandek was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect Xu Yong's decision to be so quick.
"Don't make decisions easily, you need more time to think." Sandek suggested. Young people are prone to doing things impulsively.
"I have thought about it a lot before. I will continue to stay on the team to improve myself, and then help the team achieve a better record." Xu Yong said with firm eyes.
Seeing that look, Sandek remembered that the person in front of him was Xu Yong.
He did not persuade again, but nodded.
Xu Yong staying is a good thing for him and the Devils.
Because Xu Yong has shown some ball-handling potential, if Harden goes to participate in the draft, Xu Yong can take over.
…
After the game against the University of Memphis, the Devils' season ended.
Like most NBA players, they will also have a long offseason.
Most of the Devils players went back to school with the team first.
Although they failed to defeat the University of Memphis, they reached the Sweet 16. This is still something worthy of celebration for Arizona State. In addition to the Xbox 360 that Sandek fulfilled his promise, the school will also hold a celebration party for them.
However, Xu Yong did not go back together, he chose to stay in Houston.
He called Yao Ming, hoping to get help.
"Do you want to learn the dry pull from McGrady?" Yao Ming was surprised when he heard Xu Yong's request, because everyone knew how much McGrady's dry pull hurt his waist.
"Brother Yao, Medina has a congenital spinal curvature. Believe me, I can do it." Xu Yong said with certainty.
Yes, he wants to learn McGrady's pull-up, because in his plan next season, he has plans to add weapons and train in the mid-range.
Now that the door to the new world has been opened, what reason is there not to learn the more threatening Ganba?
You must know that his height as a swingman is not shorter than Tracy McGrady.
And he also knows that another important reason why McGrady's pull-up threat is great is that his breakthrough is strong enough, and breakthrough is also a weapon that he will use to improve next season after his luck control reaches a certain level.
Of course, there is another point. From that day when he went to Yao Ming's house, he could feel that the relationship between Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady may not be as good as the media publicized, but it is by no means an enemy as some media people said. Generally speaking, they are related. He is a good teammate, so this is not a problem for Yao Ming.
"Okay, leave it to me." Yao Ming finally agreed, because he understood Xu Yong's character, and if he didn't help, Xu Yong would find other channels.
There is no need for him to shirk this kind of favor, not to mention that the Olympics are about to take place, and he also wants Xu Yong to appear on that stage.
