NBA: Rising Superstar!-Chapter 191 - 145, Duel with Durant, Zeng Xingyang’s Dominance!
Foot wash?
Upon hearing Zeng Xingyang’s words, Durant felt even more stifled.
This was mocking him.
Thunder on the attack.
After Westbrook dribbled past half-court, he organized and passed the ball.
This time, Durant got the ball outside the right three-point line, facing Grant’s defense.
A large crossover dribble, Grant caught up but couldn’t stop Durant’s jump shot.
His interference was a tad late.
The basketball was like an arrow piercing through.
"Swish!"
to 5.
"This is my home court." Durant shouted towards Zeng Xingyang after scoring.
Zeng Xingyang’s gaze was calm, he didn’t lose his cool.
Durant may be a geek, but his playing skills are indeed impressive.
Kovan said, "The Thunder lineup has many issues, but the reason they can reach the third position in the West is because of Durant and Westbrook. Today the Nuggets’ defense will be greatly tested."
Ma Jian said, "Yes, Durant is an incredible presence; he’s so tall, yet his dribbling is so nimble, making it tough to interfere with his shooting point."
On the court, Nuggets on the attack.
Zeng Xingyang dribbled to the front court, then handed the ball to Jokic.
When the ball was in Jokic’s hands, the defensive pressure on Zeng Xingyang slightly eased.
Zeng Xingyang went to receive a handoff pass.
A screen, a cover!
Jokic blocked the chasing Roberson, switching Adams to defend Zeng Xingyang.
Jokic quickly rolled down to clear space for Zeng Xingyang.
Zeng Xingyang leaned forward with the ball, employing a triple threat, and started dribbling once his teammates spread out.
Adams lowered his center of gravity, spread his arms, not daring to be careless.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Zeng Xingyang dribbled twice to the left, quickly pounded it hard to the right, then faked a jump shot.
Adams couldn’t keep up with Zeng Xingyang’s pace and was deceived.
Zeng Xingyang performed the "Buddha’s worship" move, then sped down the right side, completely getting past Adams.
Ibaka from the inside and Durant from the side both came to help defense.
As he moved forward, before the two completed their double-teaming, Zeng Xingyang tossed the ball high, and Grant, cutting along the baseline, leapt up.
"Kaboom!!"
Their alley-oop was complete.
to 5.
This attack flowed very smoothly, once again silencing the crowd.
Zeng Xingyang and Grant celebrated with a high-five.
Grant’s addition to the Nuggets provided more cutting opportunities inside.
Compared to Faried, he has faster movement speed, more offensive options, and a larger defensive coverage area.
This is one reason for the noticeable improvement in the Nuggets’ performance after the trade.
Thunder on the attack.
Westbrook dribbled to the front court, this time passing directly to Durant.
"You can’t stop me, I’m going to destroy you next." Durant taunted toward Zeng Xingyang with a triple threat stance after getting the ball.
"You look way better now than when you wanted to drink bathwater like a geek," Zeng Xingyang retorted.
Durant’s expression changed slightly, then he began to dribble.
"Double team," Zeng Xingyang chose not to defend Durant one-on-one, recognizing it as the worst defense strategy.
Harris quickly joined Zeng Xingyang to trap Durant.
Westbrook had an open spot at the top arc, but Durant was reluctant to pass to him, knowing once it reaches Westbrook’s hands, it’s likely not coming back.
Durant dribbled under pressure from the two, attempting to cross over on the left to jump in.
However.
"Slap!"
A sudden crisp sound.
Durant immediately felt the ball slip from his control.
Looking back, he saw Zeng Xingyang accelerating with the ball towards the front court.
Harris’ double team greatly aided Zeng Xingyang, allowing him to gamble on a steal.
Even if he failed to steal, Durant would not have an open shot.
Fortunately, he succeeded.
Westbrook quickly chased back after Zeng Xingyang.
But he couldn’t catch up, and Zeng Xingyang took a stride and soared into a clean, smooth glide dunk.
"Kaboom!"
to 5.
He actually stole it.
Scarlett saw me getting intercepted.
F*ck.
Durant couldn’t help but curse, his anger rising even more.
Thunder’s offense resumes.
Zeng Xingyang continues to defend Durant.
Nuggets’ defensive strategy for Durant remains a double team.
Again, Harris and Zeng Xingyang interfered with Durant’s dribbling together.
Durant was forced to pass the ball to Westbrook.
Westbrook wasn’t one to stand on ceremony with Durant; he got the ball, took a step into the free-throw line, and before Jokic could help defense, made a swift zombie jump shot.
"Kaboom!"
"Swish!"
to 7.
The basketball hit the inner rim of the hoop and fell in cleanly.
Seeing the ball go in, this is sometimes the frustrating part about Westbrook for Durant.
Say he doesn’t want to pass to Durant, but he can score himself indeed.
His efficiency is slightly lower though, but still much better than the rest of the Thunder lineup.
Nuggets on the attack.
Zeng Xingyang dribbled to the front court, passing to Jokic in the low post.
The Thunder roster is quite tall, making Jokic’s organizing tougher; it’s not easy for him to power through the inside either.
Jokic backed against Adams.
Slowly backing him down.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Observing in the process.
At this moment, Zeng Xingyang was positioning with Roberson.
Grant and Harris consecutively screened for Zeng Xingyang.
Zeng Xingyang had a catching opportunity on the left free-throw line.
Jokic returned the pass to Zeng Xingyang.
Zeng Xingyang faked a shot, easily flying Westbrook off balance.
Zeng Xingyang continued dribbling, took a step into the paint, and made a close-range pull-up jumper.
Ibaka’s help defense came over.
Ibaka was fast; he jumped to block.
Zeng Xingyang adjusted his arc higher.
The basketball fell like a shooting star.
"Swish!"
Right through the heart.
to 7.
The Nuggets, fighting away from home, showcased 100% shooting accuracy, causing the Thunder fans some concerns.
Coach Donovan on the sideline still refrained from calling a timeout, believing in his team’s ability to adjust.
Durant was frustrated watching Donovan say nothing.
No timeout? Reinforce the point of getting the ball to me!
Otherwise, keep plugging holes from behind?
Durant felt somewhat tired.
This isn’t his first year with such a Thunder setup; he’s played so many years here yet feels no coach or teammate truly understands him.
Thunder on the offense.
Westbrook dribbled to the front court.
Durant tried to request the ball; when Westbrook didn’t pass, he stood settled in the left corner.
Just watched Westbrook take charge.
Westbrook ran a pick-and-roll with Adams, taking a step to burst in.
Another zombie jump shot at the free-throw line.
"Kaboom!"
The basketball bounced hard off the rim.
The rebound was controlled by Jokic.
Jokic dribbled it past half-court himself.
Nuggets in their set offense.
Zeng Xingyang ran over for the ball; Jokic didn’t pass.
Harris went over, received the ball, and Jokic screened.
Harris couldn’t break through with the dribble and returned the ball to Jokic, while Zeng Xingyang and Pope performed a cross run.
Zeng Xingyang had a stronger pulling force on the defense, taking the defense along with him.
Jokic delivered a bounce pass to Pope.
Pope made a stop-and-pop from the free-throw line mid-range.
"Swish!"
The ball swished through the net again.
People began to worry as they saw how much stronger the Nuggets seemed compared to their last encounter with the Thunder.
Coach Donovan emphasized to his players, "Stay focused, don’t leave them any open spaces."
The Thunder attacked again.
Zeng Xingyang continued to guard Durant.
Nuggets’ strategy to defend Durant was still through double-teaming.
This time, Harris again comes to join Zeng Xingyang in harassing Durant’s dribbling.
Durant reluctantly passed the ball to Westbrook.
Westbrook wouldn’t hesitate with Durant, receiving the ball, driving into the free-throw line, and before Jokic could help, taking a sudden stop and going for a zombie jump shot.
"Bam!"
"Swish!"
to 7
The ball hit the rim hard but slipped in.
Seeing it go in, that’s what sometimes makes Durant put up with Westbrook.
You could say Westbrook wasn’t willing to pass him the ball, but he really can make the shot himself.
The efficiency is slightly lower, but still much better than any other player on the Thunder.
"""
