Chapter 895
: Jeremy Lin Destroys Deron Williams! A Stunning Debut!
"Shh!"
On the court, Jeremy Lin made a powerful and tough 2+1 play, a beautiful answer ball!
"Jeremy Lin!" Miller called out Lin's name loudly: "That 2+1 made people look at him in a new light! Let's see if this is just a one-off, or if he can really save the team!"
“I think this guy is Lin’s secret weapon,” Jackson said. “I’ve never seen a rookie, an undrafted player who has never played in regular time, play with so much confidence and determination in his very first possession!”
"This guy's confidence is exactly the same as Lin's!"
Of course they're the same, that's what Lao Tzu taught me!
Lin Tian could also hear the commentators' voices. Just as he had just told Fields, he was completely relieved after Jeremy Lin scored his first basket.
He knew the team was in the bag today! Jeremy Lin's position on the team was secure too!
In the next possession, Jeremy Lin completely shut down Deron Williams one-on-one, giving him no chance to retaliate. His defense was also quite good, forcing Williams to pass the ball to Dyson-Med Mason, who then watched as Mason's hook shot bounced off the rim and missed.
Boozer secured the rebound and immediately passed it to Jeremy Lin, who was calling for the ball.
After receiving the ball, Jeremy Lin immediately launched a counterattack, advancing all the way to the frontcourt before passing the ball to DeRozan, who had just moved to the wing.
After passing the ball, Jeremy Lin didn't stop for a second and quickly ran towards DeRozan, shouting, "Ball!"
DeRozan immediately understood his meaning. He passed the ball to Jeremy Lin with a handoff, and at the same time, he turned to the side to set a screen for him, blocking Deron Williams.
Then Jeremy Lin's attacks were unstoppable and unstoppable!
He drove all the way to the basket, dodged Chandler who rushed over to block him in mid-air, and then slammed the ball onto the backboard with both hands.
The basketball bounced again and went into the basket!
"Wow! Five points in a row! Five points in a row!" Miller exclaimed. "Fantastic! Those two possessions by the Bobcats were amazing!"
"The most amazing thing is Jeremy Lin!" Jackson said. "This guy's confidence is so strong, it's palpable! Where did this monster come from? He's so amazing from the very first appearance!"
"Is that all it takes to be amazing?" Lin Tian smiled, because he knew that the amazing part was just beginning!
After scoring two consecutive baskets, the Hornets finally reacted, and they significantly strengthened their defense against Jeremy Lin, causing him to miss his next two shots.
Although he missed two shots in a row, he also managed to make Deron Williams miss two shots as well, and Deron Williams didn't score a single point against him!
As the second quarter progressed rapidly, Jeremy Lin played with increasing ease and confidence on the court.
Although he didn't score again on his own offense, he was able to find his teammates one after another, assisting Yao Ming, Boozer and DeRozan to score. He was also able to grab the rebound and push the fast break directly. Not to mention his defense against Deron Williams was impeccable, almost perfect!
Throughout the second quarter, Jeremy Lin was omnipresent, always appearing where the team needed him most!
With 20 seconds left in the second quarter, Deron Williams held the ball at the top of the key to reduce the time.
His second quarter was a classic case of starting strong but ending weak. He started with a 2+1 play, but then failed to score a single point in the remaining time!
He was locked in by a rookie who failed to make the cut!
This is something Delong's pride absolutely cannot accept!
He was furious.
So he was determined to make this attack, no matter what. He wanted to teach Jeremy Lin a lesson and get revenge with a buzzer-beater.
Last 10 seconds.
Deron suddenly made a half-turn and then accelerated, taking only one step forward before unleashing his signature sharp change of direction, dribbling the ball from left to right.
Then, with the help of his footwork, Deron Williams executed a second crossover, and the basketball returned from the right to the left!
This is his signature double crossover dribble, and countless guards have suffered at his hands, completely disoriented by his moves.
Even Paul could only watch helplessly as Deron rushed past him when faced with this move.
But this time, Deron failed!
He suddenly felt a lightness in his hand, and then looked incredulously at Jeremy Lin withdrawing his outstretched hand, quickly bypassing him to grab the basketball, and then sprinting away, racing against time to complete the final attack.
Deron knew he couldn't catch up, but he didn't give up and continued to chase after them with all his might.
He couldn't believe that this rookie could steal the ball from him so easily. He tried his best to chase back and defend against the ball.
Unfortunately, the distance between the two was too great. Even though Deron Williams tried his best, he couldn't catch up with Jeremy Lin and could only watch helplessly as Lin completed a dunk with 2 seconds left in the first half, helping the Bobcats score 2 more points!
The Hornets, on the other hand, had no further opportunities to attack.
With two seconds left, they simply passed the ball in; they didn't make any risky passes.
After all, they are the team in the lead. If they rashly pass the ball and it gets intercepted, and then someone scores a goal in the nick of time, it would be a huge loss! It would be better to control the game steadily until the end of the first half.
But no matter how much they tried to play it safe on the last play, they were completely outplayed by the Bobcats in the second quarter.
26: 18!
Led by Jeremy Lin, the Bobcats rallied to score 8 points in this quarter, trailing by only 2 points at halftime.
Meanwhile, Deron Williams, who dominated the first quarter, was completely contained when he faced Jeremy Lin. He failed to score a single point against Lin and was even stripped of the ball one-on-one in the final moments.
He's really made a fool of himself.
So, during halftime, Deron Williams only said one thing to Scott: "In the second half, hand that Asian guy over to me! Just because he shares the same surname as Lin, does that make me afraid of him?"
"I'll crush him completely! I'll show him just how big the gap is between us!"
In the Bobcats' locker room, Lin Tian praised everyone on the team, including Augustin, who had played terribly that night.
He praised everyone, then gave special praise to Jeremy Lin, and said, "Lin will start in the second half! Let's continue playing like we did in the first half!"
"Jeremy, they'll definitely target you in the second half, they'll put specific defense on you, so pass the ball more, find your teammates, and use the passing to drive your individual offense! I believe in you! In the second half, let those Hornets know your name!"
"Let the whole world know your name! From today onwards, you won't need to introduce yourself anywhere you go."
"Because they all know you!"
"Jeremy Lin!"
After saying that, Lin Tian looked at everyone else and said, "Now there's only a 2-point difference. They'll focus more on Jeremy in the second half, so everyone, seize the opportunity! If we can make our first few shots, the Hornets are finished!"
"Their defense will fall apart completely, and that will be our chance to turn the game around!"
"Alright everyone, cheer up! Let's win this game and end our losing streak!"
"understand!"
Soon, the intermission was over.
The second half continues!
Upon seeing the lineups of both teams, Miller quickly said, "Sure enough, the Bobcats have changed their starters! They put Lin, who had an amazing performance in the second quarter with 7 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal, into the starting lineup, and brought back Augustin, who should be on the bench, to his original position."
"Next, let's see if the Hornets have any other plans, and whether Lin can continue his magic!"
Then, as soon as Miller finished speaking, Jeremy Lin, who had dribbled to the frontcourt, glanced at Deron Williams, who was guarding him inside the three-point line, and actually pulled up for a jump shot!
He didn't even wait for Yao Ming to get into position to grab the rebound before he took a three-pointer!
The entire stadium, including Lin Tian, was surprised that Jeremy Lin dared to shoot like that!
This is the kind of shot only the team's star player and privileged players dare to take!
This is commonly known as XJBT.
Once this kind of ball is thrown, its fate is left to chance; it's a completely irresponsible and unreasonable move that disregards tactics and logic.
If this kind of shot goes in, it's a divine goal, incredibly exciting, but if it misses, you'll get a severe scolding from the coach and be utterly disliked by your teammates.
An ordinary player wouldn't dare to take a shot like that. But Jeremy Lin did!
"Shh!"
Then, to everyone's astonishment, Jeremy Lin hit a three-pointer!
In the very first possession of the second half, the Bobcats took the lead!
After making that shot, Jeremy Lin no longer suppressed his passion.
He clenched his fists at his waist, raised his head to the sky, and let out a huge howl.
Jeremy Lin let out a long roar, venting all the frustration he had felt since being ignored since the draft in June.
"After tonight, I'll make sure you tremble and call out my name every time you see me!" After a roar, Jeremy Lin stared intently at Deron Williams and yelled at him angrily, "You'll know how powerful I am!"
Jeremy Lin's aggressive trash talk actually ignited Deron Williams' desire to win. He immediately demanded the ball and dribbled it all the way to the frontcourt. Facing Lin's snake-like defense, he constantly changed the rhythm of his dribbling.
Then, finally finding an opportunity, he accelerated and drove to the basket, making a high-arcing layup and scoring!
"Kid, come on!" Deron Williams' eyes were bloodshot as he glared at Jeremy Lin, practically spitting fire.
I'm Deron Williams, you think you can beat a rookie like you?
impossible!
However, to Deron Williams' surprise, in the next possession after battling with Williams, Jeremy Lin did not attempt a direct attack himself. Instead, he quickly called a screen, then bounced the ball to Boozer, who had broken up the defense.
Boozer received the ball and made a jump shot, scoring 2 points!
"Calm down! This calmness is even more valuable than the roar and release just now!" Miller couldn't help but comment again: "Everyone releases and celebrates when they are excited."
Jackson said, "But it's incredibly difficult to quickly regain composure and make the right decision after such extreme excitement! Just based on that pass, I believe this kid's brilliance is definitely not limited to tonight!"
"As a point guard, I absolutely have the right to speak!"
At this moment, Lin Tian, who was sitting on the bench, exchanged a glance with Jeremy Lin, who was quickly retreating to defend.
Lin Tian didn't hold back his praise, giving a thumbs up to show his brother a great job!
After receiving Lin Tian's affirmation, Jeremy Lin became even more energetic and was once again locked in a fierce battle with Deron Williams!
This time, the confrontation between Deron Williams and Jeremy Lin was more like a meat grinder showdown, with neither giving an inch and the two completely entangled.
Deron Williams, without even shaking off Jeremy Lin, took a step back and shot, but missed.
He was defended by Jeremy Lin again.
But then, after a pass and cut, Jeremy Lin made an alley-oop layup attempt, but Deron Williams blocked it with a powerful shot!
"You think you can eat me? Dream on!" Deron Williams, even more menacing after the block, continued to taunt Jeremy Lin.
"It's nighttime now!" Jeremy Lin remained as calm as ice, saying indifferently, "Who didn't score a single point against me in the second quarter? If that doesn't count as 'eating' me, I really don't know what counts as 'eating' me."
"Does it really have to be an own goal?"
Deron Williams was quite dissatisfied with Jeremy Lin's composure, and he launched another attack on Lin. However, this time he did not try to force the attack himself, but instead drew the double team and found Yi Jianlian, who was open, and assisted Yi Jianlian to make a mid-range shot!
"You think you're the only one who can pass the ball? When it comes to passing, I'm your granddaddy!"
"You're amazing." Jeremy Lin said with that infuriatingly nonchalant expression and tone, "5 assists and 3 turnovers, that's incredible!"
"Fine! Fine! Fine!" Deron Williams laughed in exasperation, looking at Jeremy Lin and saying, "I sincerely hope that when the game ends tonight, you can still walk off the court on your own!"
In the remainder of the third quarter, the two guys became completely entangled.
Both of them had a lot of ball possession, so they had many opportunities to handle the ball. Therefore, even though neither of them played too selfishly and both passed the ball out quite a lot, they still took a lot of shots.
In the third quarter, both players took 7 shots and only made 2! However, Jeremy Lin drew two fouls and went to the free-throw line 4 times. Although he only made 2 free throws due to the intense contact and physicality, he still scored 7 points in the third quarter.
Deron Williams only made 2 of 7 shots in the third quarter, and he didn't get a single free throw, so he only scored 4 points in total!
It's fair to say that these two completely traded blows in the third quarter.
Although Jeremy Lin scored 3 more points, those 3 points were clearly insignificant in the context of the entire game.
Importantly, both of them played quite poorly in the third quarter.
The only commendable thing is that these two players almost beat the opponent's brains out, yet they were still able to remain calm. And the best example of their composure is that both of them had 0 turnovers and 0 fouls in the third quarter!
This proves that although they were arguing, they didn't make any reckless moves, pass the ball haphazardly, or play recklessly.
These two managed to protect their players, demonstrating the professionalism expected of point guards.
The two key players in the third quarter were evenly matched, making it difficult to determine which team was better.
24: 24!
The two teams were tied in this quarter, with neither able to gain an advantage.
It's worth mentioning that Yi Jianlian of the Hornets was dominant in this quarter, going 4-for-4 from the field and 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, scoring 14 points and grabbing 5 rebounds with a 100% shooting percentage! He was undoubtedly the biggest contributor to the Hornets not falling behind in the third quarter!
The Bobcats' scoring was much more balanced in this quarter. In addition to Jeremy Lin's 6 points, 6 other players on the team scored and made field goals!
The Bobcats' performance in this quarter was absolutely perfectly balanced.
But simply achieving balance is clearly not enough!
This only prevented the Bobcats from losing points in this quarter.
They want to win, and they must reverse that 2-point deficit in the final quarter!
"In the fourth quarter, step up your offense!" During the break between the third and fourth quarters, Lin Tian clapped his hands to remind everyone, "I'm not talking about you guys, I'm talking about Lin!"
"In the fourth quarter, I need you to step up your individual offense! If you can't handle Deron Williams, call for more screens! One screen, two screens, elevator screens, high double screens! Just call them whenever you need them!"
"I believe in you, and I think your teammates believe in you too!"
"I believe you can lead the team to victory in the fourth quarter and help us turn the score around!"
"I understand!" Jeremy Lin, who had never been entrusted with such a heavy responsibility since entering the NBA, couldn't tell whether he was excited or nervous.
But no matter what he thought in his heart, he took on the task!
Meanwhile, having played the entire third quarter, he will obviously continue to play the entire fourth quarter!
He definitely won't be resting tonight!
Of course, for Jeremy Lin, who is eager to play in the NBA, he doesn't need any rest at this time.
All he needs to do is seize this opportunity and truly establish himself in the team, and that will be enough!
With the referee's whistle, both teams quickly got into the game and it continued!
Deron Williams dribbled the ball quickly to the frontcourt and faced Jeremy Lin. This time, Williams was no longer so stubborn and insisted on a one-on-one matchup. He patted his head and called for Yi Jianlian to set a screen.
Just when everyone thought it was a real cover, Deron didn't wait for Yi Jianlian to get close and quickly accelerated from another direction to break through. In the end, it could be considered a successful cover.
Because Yi Jianlian successfully distracted Jeremy Lin, Deron Williams drove hard to the basket this time, wanting to dunk over Yao Ming and save face for himself.
But sometimes, the more you crave face, the more it slips away from you! (End of Chapter)