After the ga ended.
Everyone pushed open the locker room door and celebrated wildly.
Everyone played happily tonight. Mike Malone rotated 12 players, and everyone put up decent stats.
Faried and Galinarli surrounded Zeng Xingyang, making a fuss.
Jokic even poured a bottle of mineral water over Zeng Xingyang’s head.
After ssing around for about ten minutes, everyone went off to shower.
anwhile, the 76ers started accepting interviews first.
A reporter asked Coach Brown, "Coach, what’s your take on the Nuggets’ two rookies?"
What do I think?
Of course, I’m envious.
One scored 40 , and the other got a triple-double.
Damn, and it was done on my team’s watch.
Without comparison, there’s no harm.
Okafor only got 8 points and 11 rebounds tonight, scored just two field goals, so how do we compare?
Coach Brown said, "The Nuggets’ managent has done an outstanding job. They played excellently, and both of them have the potential of All-Star caliber players."
Coach Brown almost said our managent is trash.
Even if you’re tanking, don’t ss up the team culture.
Just look at their 7th pick and second-round pick...
Coach Brown wasn’t optimistic about his career with the 76ers either. Anyway, he figured he’d get a stint of pay before leaving.
Once fired here, it’d be tough to find another job.
...
After the 76ers players and coach finished their interviews, the Nuggets also ca out for interviews.
Malone brought Jokic and Zeng Xingyang to the interview seats.
There was an overwhelming number of caras below.
A reporter asked, "Congratulations on breaking your personal high again. Your average score this season is also in the top five. Will you be aiming for the scoring title next?"
Aiming for the scoring title as a rookie, that’s a huge challenge.
Zeng Xingyang rembered that the season’s top scorers were Curry, averaging around 30, and Harden, averaging about 29.
If I go for it, these two might get stimulated and bump their stats further...
For them, scoring isn’t hard.
For to score higher than them now is extrely difficult.
Zeng Xingyang still had a sense of pressure...
Zeng Xingyang thought for a mont, then said, "I’ll try and challenge this goal, but it’s very hard to achieve."
Though not realistic, a goal is still needed.
The reporter asked, "What do you think of Nikola Jokic’s triple-double?"
Speaking of Jokic, it’s ti to praise. Zeng Xingyang said, "This guy will beco one of the best players in the league. Playing alongside him feels great; he brings everyone together—it’s a unique talent."
Being praised like this for so long, Jokic felt a bit embarrassed, scratching his head and spreading his hands.
Then Jokic praised Zeng Xingyang back: "Zeng will beco the best scorer. He has a rich scoring arsenal, and I’ll vote for him in this season’s All-Star."
Outsiders could see that Jokic and Zeng Xingyang had a great relationship both on and off the court.
...
Scoring 40 points against the 76ers.
Does it an this person is very strong?
Not necessarily.
Because the 76ers this season didn’t show NBA-level battle power. Aside from Okafor, none of their starting players could make the rotation on other teams.
Against such a lineup, slightly competent scorers wouldn’t find it hard to score points.
Of course, when such news appears about a rookie, the dia gets excited. They don’t care about the 76ers’ strength.
Even if they’re bad, aren’t they still an NBA team?
"Zeng Xingyang locks Best Rookie, scores 40 again for a personal high!"
"We see the future scoring king’s prototype in Zeng Xingyang."
"Nuggets massacre the 76ers, uncovering the NBA tanking team’s disgrace!"
"The crazy Nuggets reach 5 wins and 3 losses, ranking fourth in the West!"
"Aiming for playoffs, Zeng Xingyang and Jokic beco the new core of the Nuggets!"
"Rookie boasts target for scoring king!"
The dostic dia hyped it up crazily.
Zeng Xingyang’s performance excited many dia people.
...
But after defeating the 76ers, they suffered a loss against the Suns back at ho.
The Suns aren’t a super strong team; their record was just 4 wins and 4 losses, yet the Nuggets still lost.
The reason for the loss was mainly because the whole team hadn’t fully recovered their stamina after the road trip.
The whole team had low offensive efficiency and apathetic defense on the court.
Everyone was very tired.
The point guard position was directly overwheld by "Blood Cloth" Bledsoe.
Under Blood Cloth’s lead, Knight, TJ Warren, and Booker all opened up their shots.
Nelson and Harris, both guards, struggled heavily.
In the end, the score was 100 to 89, with the Nuggets losing by 11 points at ho, making their record 5 wins and 4 losses, ranking eighth in the West.
In the early season, one more loss or one more win can result in huge ranking changes.
Zeng Xingyang didn’t explode like before, scoring 15 points, collecting 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and committing 3 turnovers, with a 3-point shooting of 11 attempts and 3 makes—an average performance.
The best perforr, Jokic, steadily contributed 12 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assists, helpless to carry his lackluster teammates.
Like Zeng Xingyang’s rising status, Jokic, too, had more ball-handling opportunities now compared to when Zeng Xingyang watched him in his past life.
Though the Nuggets lost today, fans still thought Zeng Xingyang’s performance was decent. He mainly restricted the opponent when defending their small forward, and his help defense inside and out disrupted shots as much as possible.
Anyway, watching the Nuggets’ gas now.
If they lose, the coach takes the bla, teammates are crap.
If they win, Zeng Xingyang is aweso, leading the team.
Especially the dostic dia, they’re almost touting Zeng Xingyang as the Nuggets’ first "Emperor."
After the ga ended, fans started leaving gradually, with only the staff still bustling around.
"Hey, isn’t that Zeng?"
"It’s him, it is him. What’s he doing?"
"Practicing shooting?"
"No, he’s practicing contested layups."
A few reporters took out caras and aid them at Zeng Xingyang on the court.
Zeng Xingyang was indeed not practicing shooting but rather practicing breakthroughs and contested layups.
The trainer had a big crash pad, and another trainer held two long sticks to help Zeng Xingyang train.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Iron!"
Soon, the sounds of constant layup contests echoed on-site.
It almost sounded like the clanging of iron hamrs in a blacksmith shop, resonating throughout the Pepsi Center in Denver.
"Click, click, click."
Reporters captured this scene.
One reporter sighed, "While others are getting ready for the club, Zeng Xingyang is still working extra."
Another reporter said, "He will definitely beco a superstar in the future!"
Zeng Xingyang’s additional training was mainly because he missed several breakthrough layups today, which annoyed him.
And his [Layup] attribute was close to upgrading.
With the new season, Zeng Xingyang mainly focused his training on finishing at the rim, which he used relatively less.
Other attributes could mostly gain equivalent experience through gas.
Layups were used least and needed more extra practice.
To gain layup experience, it naturally couldn’t just be open layups, but simulated contested layups were essential for gaining experience.
So, Zeng Xingyang specifically asked the trainers to work overti.
Trainers were happy to help players with extra training since they knew overti work ant extra tips.
Players were millionaires or even billionaires, and a little bit from their pocket was enough to let these working folks live comfortably.
Not all trainers had high salaries, and ordinary trainers often worked for average wages unless they were top-tier trainers, then there were more people willing to work.
After today’s extra hour of training, Zeng Xingyang discovered that his [Layup] attribute was upgraded to LV4.
A LV4 [Layup] allows maintaining a certain level of stability under contact.
This attribute improvent would have a significant impact on him.
In addition to the [Layup] attribute upgrade, Zeng Xingyang discovered a new attribute activated, Bounce.
[Bounce]: LV2
[Vertical jump height: 60CM to 82CM.]
Reviews
All reviews (0)