Chapter 181 180. We've Been Caught in the Rain

During lunch, Zhang Yang learned about the recent situation of DeRozan and Harden.

Harden won the California Basketball Player of the Year award last season and led Ryanwood High School to win the CIF Division I championship with a record of 33 wins and 1 loss. He was selected to the California First Team and the All-American Second Team. His only loss was to the Compton High School main team in the league stage, but he got revenge in the final and led his team to win the championship.

This season, Lanewood High School has a chance to win two consecutive championships. So far, they have only lost two games, one to Compton High School and one to Southern California High School. These two high schools are their biggest rivals for the championship.

Harden may also win California Basketball Player of the Year again. There is not much difference in his statistics in the two years. He averaged 30 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks per game. His ability continues to improve, but there is no room for improvement in his statistics.

DeRozan averaged 29 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals per game last season, leading the Compton High School second team to a 35-10 record and the Moore League regular season championship. They also won the playoffs without losing any of their 8 games and were selected to the California First Team and the All-American First Team. He did not win the California Basketball Player of the Year award because the award is only given to teams in the CIF Division I league.

This season he averaged 31.4 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals per game. He is currently leading the Compton High School second team to a record of 38 wins and 2 losses. There are still 5 games left in the regular season. As long as DeRozan performs well, winning the championship will not be a big problem.

The two of them are in two different leagues, and although they can no longer compete against each other, they both have the opportunity to win championships and strive for more honors.

When DeRozan and Harden talked about their high school performance, Felton spoke in an encouraging tone, acting like a senior.

High school champions, explosive statistics, All-Americans... Which one of the four people here is not? If you don't have these achievements, you don't deserve to be at this table.

As the former third-ranked high school student in the United States, Felton has won all the awards that Harden and DeRozan have won.

And Felton was not only ranked third in basketball in the United States. If he had chosen football or baseball in college, he would have received a full scholarship. If he had chosen track and field sports such as javelin, discus, and hammer throw, he would have at least received a partial scholarship. During his three years from his sophomore to senior year of high school, Felton was the god of high school sports in the Carolina area.

After lunch, the four came to the venue for this year's All-Star Weekend, Thomas and Mack Arena at the University of Las Vegas.

Harden: "Wow, this is a college arena? It feels bigger than the Staples Center!"

Felton, who loves making travel guides, responded: "This is the fourth largest basketball stadium in the United States. Only the United Center in Chicago, the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, and the Verizon Center in Washington are larger than this one. It was completed in 4. The stadium is very new and the facilities and equipment inside are all the latest models. The league voted to hold the All-Star Weekend here because there is such an advanced stadium here.

I heard from Michael that if Robert Johnson had not paid to buy the team quota, the 30th NBA team would most likely be here. NBA Vice President Silva has been pushing for this, but Stern rejected it..."

The four entered the arena and came to the training ground prepared by the league for the sophomore team.

There are already two people inside, Ellis and Bynum.

When Bynum saw Zhang Yang coming, he trotted over to the others and said, "Jack, I knew you would come to practice early."

Felton and Bynum had played against each other several times and didn't feel anything was wrong. It was the first time for DeRozan and Harden to see Bynum in person. It was amazing that that huge body of 215 cm and 129 kg could run over so fast... Just from this point, the two of them could intuitively feel Bynum's talent.

He is indeed a super genius who was selected in the lottery at the age of 17 together with Jack.

DeRozan and Harden looked at each other and said: We need to work harder, otherwise we won’t be able to get to the table next time.

Zhang Yang introduced two of this year's top ten high school students in the United States to Bynum.

This title is still very useful for players who have just entered the NBA. Bynum is also among the top ten in the United States and ranked tenth in the United States in the 05 class. He greeted and got to know the two of them enthusiastically.

By the way, Ellis, who just turned around and glanced at Zhang Yang and others when he saw them coming and continued training, is also in the top ten in the United States and ranks second.

Zhang Yang and Ellis didn't have a good relationship, and everyone present knew it. But no one paid attention to Ellis and they just chatted about their own things.

Zhang Yang: "Andrew, I didn't expect you to come to training. I thought you would take a good rest while Kobe is away."

Bynum: "Don't mention that guy. My hair grew a little longer a few days ago, so he took me to shave it like his. I also wanted to take a break, but it was boring to lie in the hotel. This is the sadness of being a high school player. We can't go anywhere legally, so we came to find you to train together..."

Zhang Yang was speechless.

Did this guy really not notice his changes?
In the past, if Bynum was bored, he would definitely not think about training, but go bowling, golf, go to music festivals... and do those things he wanted to do but didn't have the money to do before entering the NBA and making a lot of money.

Before being selected by the Lakers, Bynum usually slept when he was bored.

Now when I'm bored, my first thought is training... I have to say, Kobe is very good at learning from experience. After he teamed up with Jordan and Arenas to torment Kwame Brown, he was obviously much more patient when he met Bynum. Although he was strict, he did train Bynum well.

Of course, it is not ruled out that Kobe is simply jealous of Bynum's thick hair.

Zhang Yang said to Bynum: "Andrew, you should thank Kwame Brown when you have time."

Bynum: "Ah? Well, Kwame did help me a lot. My low-post defense improved so quickly, all thanks to his guidance. I used to think he was terrible and brought shame to us high school players. It was only after I became his teammate that I realized his talent..."

The four chatted for a while and then started training.

Harden and Felton went to exchange their experience on step-back three-pointers. Harden has more skills in this area, while Felton is more capable, plays at a higher level, and has more practical experience. The two complement each other.

Bynum continued to practice free throws. His shooting percentage this season is 55%. His awareness of catching dunks has greatly improved compared to last season, but his free throws are too bad. So far this season, his shooting percentage is only 53%. He deserves the title of "O'Neal's successor" in the eyes of Lakers fans.

1月15号打勇士队被对方‘砍鲨’，他最后3分钟连续4次罚球不中，差点浪费科比那晚的20分13板11助攻的三双表现，得亏大胡子和拳圣最后连续三分不中。

Kobe asked him to improve his damn free throw shooting percentage to 70% before next season. Under the pressure of his boss, Bynum had no choice but to practice hard.

DeRozan stretched his body and then started to challenge Zhang Yang.

The last time the two had a one-on-one duel was in July 05 when Zhang Yang was selected and returned to Yinshan to be with his family. A year and a half has passed.

At that time, DeRozan and Zhang Yang had a one-on-one duel. Although they had more losses than wins, they could still fight.

This time, the gap is too big!

Zhang Yang has learned a lot of techniques in the past two years. Some of them cannot be used in NBA games, and some are easily restricted when encountering strong defensive players. But when playing against DeRozan... he turned into an offensive kaleidoscope, breaking through, back-to-the-basket, quick stop jump shot, step-back shot, pull-up shot under the basket... he can do everything.

His defensive fundamentals are also much better than when he was in high school. In the 11th grade, he was already the best defensive outside player in California high school basketball, and he was able to better interfere with DeRozan's shooting.

DeRozan could have anticipated these gaps.

But Zhang Yang's physical fitness has also improved a lot. In terms of speed and strength, DeRozan has no advantage... After several sets of one-on-one duels, DeRozan came to the window and looked at the sun in the sky. I don't know if it was sweat or tears suddenly slid down his face.

It was he who took Zhang Yang to play cricket back then... After his mentality exploded for a while, DeRozan continued to practice hard!

At around 3 o'clock, the league staff arrived. DeRozan and Harden said goodbye to the three of them and left the training ground to go out for a walk. They had already got the tickets for the All-Star Weekend and would watch the game in the evening.

The other players on the sophomore team arrived one after another after 3:.

At the end of the morning work, Zhang Yang received a notice to gather at 4 pm to prepare for the game. Bynum and Ellis, who came to the training early, were not old enough to enter the casino like Zhang Yang, so everyone else went to play.

Felton had also planned to go out and play after lunch, but instead of taking a gamble, he wanted to chat more with Harden, who was developing a three-pointer while using a screen to break through.

This is why Stern is so opposed to Las Vegas's plan to establish a 30th NBA team.

Zhang Yang is not interested in going to the casino. It’s okay to play Mahjong or Landlord with a few people occasionally, but as for gambling... he has an incompatible relationship with gambling and drugs!
Other players on the sophomore team are Paul, Deron, Granger, David Lee and Bogut.

When Paul arrived at the training ground, he got together with Zhang Yang, Felton and Bynum. Friends of friends are friends, and the four of them formed a small team.

In the rookie game, Zhang Yang was a little different from when he was on the team. He gathered his teammates together.

The Bad Boys team gathered the strongest combat power and talent of the 05 class. Granger, David Lee, and Bogut all gathered around Zhang Yang when they heard his call.

Deron and Ellis didn't want to move, but they didn't have a good relationship with each other and didn't consider each other as "their own". If they didn't follow and surround them, they would feel isolated, so they had to follow and move forward.

The two players who were not on good terms did not speak out to oppose the team. To save trouble, Zhang Yang said, "We lost to the 04 team last year. If we lose again this year, we will be nailed to the pillar of shame like the 00 team. It doesn't matter who wins the MVP. Monta, Deron, David... It's all fine. We must win tonight!"

Zhang Yang made it clear that the four of them would not compete for the MVP, which made Deron and Ellis feel less repulsive.

What Deron doesn't like is Felton, and he also doesn't like Zhang Yang. After hearing this, he just accepts the arrangement.

Ellis hates Zhang Yang, but he recognizes Zhang Yang's strength. If he doesn't even recognize the opponent who defeated him, then what is he?

He said disdainfully: "Play against the 06 class, and win easily."

Zhang Yang: "I know, but we can't be careless. If we lose, it will be embarrassing. And we have to win beautifully... I have given tonight's game a name, Operation Umbrella Tearing!"

Paul was curious: "Why is it called Operation Umbrella Tearing?"

This... Zhang Yang began to make up: "As we move forward on the road of basketball, we will always face many difficulties and setbacks. Those difficulties and setbacks are like heavy rains one after another. We all try hard to hold up an umbrella in the heavy rain to protect ourselves from the wind and rain..."

As expected of a college student, he speaks in a set way. Ellis asked in a teasing tone: "So we want to pass on our experience to the rookies who will enter the NBA later?"

Zhang Yang: "No, we have to tear off the umbrellas of the Class of 06! We have been caught in the rain, so of course we have to let them get caught in the rain too, and it has to be a violent storm!"

(End of this chapter)