My days of working at the NBA

Chapter 20 Showing off? You're not a professional.

3 month 22 day.

Sunday.

Still in Boise, Idaho, at Taco Bell Arena.

The scene was packed with people, and countless flags were waving and fluttering in the wind.

When the game reached the round of 32, a faint sense of suffocation permeated the air throughout the stadium.

Lisa clearly noticed this and turned to John, saying, "Sir, I feel the atmosphere isn't as lively anymore; there's a bit more solemn in the air."

John explained casually, "During March Madness each year, most of the fans who come to the Neutral Arena to watch the games are alumni of both schools, and this percentage will continue to rise as the tournament progresses. With each game determining life or death, and the two sides being on opposing sides, the atmosphere naturally becomes tense."

Lisa gave a wry smile and shook her head: "It's such a pity that I didn't get to experience this kind of atmosphere with my father when I was a child. It's such a shame."

Alumni from prestigious universities came from all directions to show their support, demonstrating how popular this community culture is in Meilika.

Many old acquaintances, even former classmates, will reunite here on a certain day during March Madness, after many years.

That's the most exciting part.

They may not just be there to support their school; perhaps they're also looking to rediscover their youthful, innocent selves.

John didn't respond, but instead stared straight ahead.

Lisa seemed to sense something and followed his gaze.

There sat a bald man with a laptop on his lap, wearing a dark jacket, looking quite capable.

But this person didn't fit in with the fans around him.

Because serious fans either have stickers related to the University of Missouri on their faces or wear Marquette University's signature blue clothing. But this bald guy not far away has none of those things on him.

After a moment, Lisa asked, "Our companions?"

John withdrew his gaze: "It seems that Demarai, Duze, Wesley, and Gerald are indeed very attractive newcomers. There are at least seven or eight of them here today."

Lisa was slightly taken aback: "Won't this...affect the team's draft plans?"

After all, Du Ze was the first one they discovered.

If they don't make a fuss, will that slow down the discovery and research by others?

John calmly waved his hand: "Newcomers who can enter the public eye can't hide."

He then explained to Lisa, "It's true that you select players based on potential, but you also need to consider what kind of picks you have, what type of players you need, and what direction you want to take in terms of strengthening your team."

"I want Blake Griffin, but do you think I can just conjure up a number one draft pick out of thin air? That's impossible!"

"When a team selects players, it first identifies several target candidates, studies them thoroughly, conducts assessments, confirms their suitability, and finalizes the selection. Only then do we begin to work around our draft picks. If the process doesn't work out, or if someone else picks them early, we naturally have contingency plans."

"Of course, the final decision is always full of uncertainty, and luck plays a part as well."

Lisa nodded slightly: "Understood."

……

……

As the DJ roared, the players from both sides began to enter the field.

The University of Missouri's starting lineup remains unchanged: point guard Lawrence, shooting guard Taylor, small forward Lyons, power forward Carroll, and center Duzer.

Marquette University: Point Guard Maurice Aker, Shooting Guard Jeremy McNeil, Shooting Guard Wesley Matthews, Forward Lazar Hayward, Center Dwight Burke.

Upon seeing the roster, Lisa was somewhat surprised: "Huh, Marquette University is actually fielding a three-defender formation?"

John disagreed: "Missouri is pretty much the same. Strictly speaking, their lineup is two guards and three forwards, and they don't have any height in the paint."

Finally, he added, "In college, it's not uncommon to have any kind of unbalanced lineup; it's quite normal because teams have a tough time selecting players, which can easily lead to situations where players are severely unbalanced in certain areas."

The conversation between the two ended.

The players on the field were also making their final preparations.

Du Ze walked to the technical table, smeared some magnesium powder on his hands, and kicked his heels.

At this time.

For some unknown reason, Jeryl McNeil, who was standing next to him, suddenly threw the magnesium powder in his hand into the air.

The magnesium powder drifted in the wind and smeared all over Du Ze's face.

Fortunately, Du Ze reacted quickly and immediately raised his arm to cover his eyes, preventing the magnesium powder from seeping in.

He immediately got angry, pointed to his head, and retorted, "Are you out of your mind, throwing magnesium powder into the air and making others inhale the dust?"

McNeil paused for a moment, opened his mouth as if to say something, but perhaps because he was in the wrong, he couldn't utter a single word.

Du Ze snorted twice: "You idiot, you look like a coward, yet you try to act cool like others."

He left after saying that.

McNeil, on the other hand, stood frozen in place, as if he had swallowed a fly whole.

It took him a while to recover, and he immediately broke down: "What the hell do you know? This is my LeBron James' pre-game ritual..."

But all those words have vanished with the wind.

It simply won't reach anyone else's ears.

This made McNeil feel even more choked up; it felt like there was an itch in his throat, and he had so much to say, but nowhere to utter it…

As the players from both sides moved to the center circle.

McNeil glared at Duze, with only one thought in his mind: later, he'd teach this kid a lesson...

The whistle blows.

The competition has officially begun.

jump ball.

Duze's height was a disadvantage, or rather, Burke was simply too tall.

Marquette got the first attack of the game.

Ak controlled the ball...

But McNeil simply gestured to the other person and said, "Give it to me..."

How domineering.

Aké dared not disobey the team leader.

As soon as he got the ball, McNeil charged forward relentlessly.

Like a mad bull demon, he charged recklessly, heading straight for the basket.

This situation was completely unexpected by everyone.

After all, it's now a 32-to-16 elimination round, so its importance is self-evident.

Everyone assumed that in the first round, both sides would cautiously establish their positions and try to secure a high success rate before making any moves.

As a result, McNeil's series of fierce moves caught everyone completely off guard.

He fought his way through the checkpoints, giving Missouri no time to react, and in the blink of an eye, he had reached the paint zone.

Du Ze hadn't expected him to be so fierce.

But his mobility is undeniable; his lateral movement speed is definitely not slow, and he's already positioned under the basket in almost the same amount of time.

The two thus formed their first direct confrontation.

Without the slightest hesitation, McNeil jumped up over Duze, his whole body flying sideways, swinging his arm to smash into the basket, as if he was going to dunk on him.

Du Ze was also ready, raising his hands high above his head and covering them.

result.

next second.

McNeil suddenly stopped the ball and made a backhand motion.

If it were anyone else, they might have just watched helplessly as McNeil completed the action.

But Du Ze has that 0.1-second predictive ability.

The moment McNeil caught the ball, he had already made his judgment and adjusted in the air.

then.

With both hands, he precisely pressed down on McNeil's ball.

McNeil couldn't find any foothold in the air and fell straight down, like a frog that had been flipped over, landing on its back with all four legs in the air.

boom.

That blow looked painful.