Unfortunately, in the NBA, such exquisite plays that require team chemistry to execute are not as direct as those tomahawk dunks, often leading them to be forgotten and overlooked.
For instance, twenty years from now, even if Nikola Jokic is renowned worldwide, how many people truly appreciate Jokic?
On the court, it’s the Warriors’ possession.
This ti, the Warriors successfully executed the Flex strategy, and through subsequent plays, Qin Yue found Artest who was lurking on the periter.
Consequently, while Qin Yue added an assist to his stats, Artest opened his scoring account with a three-pointer.
In the NBA, passing and assisting can be that simple.
Because you only need to press the pass button and find an open teammate to earn an assist.
But in the NBA, passing and assisting can sotis be difficult.
Because no matter how many assists you accumulate in your career, if you lack the ability to quickly read the defense and either direct or deliver a perfect pass to your teammate, then it’s simply not there.
On the Jazz’s bench, Sloan sighed, "A diocre playmaker waits for teammates to get open before passing.
An advanced playmaker uses the pass to lead their teammates forward.
But a true legend... often envisions the entire play even before it begins."
Sloan couldn’t imagine what heights Qin Yue would reach with several more seasons of growth.
The future?
In this era, no one can compare to Qin Yue in terms of potential.
Because he is the future.
That night, Qin Yue continued to astonish Sloan.
Perhaps in a Warriors’ offensive sequence, he only perford a seemingly insignificant screen.
Perhaps he was just a flag for a feigned attack.
Perhaps when the play was finished, the ball might not even have passed through his hands.
But as long as Qin Yue was on the court, the Warriors’ offense exuded a unique aesthetic.
"It’s a pity their coach can’t fully utilize his tactical value."
In Jerry Sloan’s eyes, Mike Montgory had already beco the Warriors’ greatest flaw.
But what difference does it make?
For Montgory to coach Qin Yue speaks volus in itself.
In the first half, under Sloan’s ticulously crafted defense, Qin Yue, with limited shots, scored a total of 8 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal.
It was a half that left Sloan both excited and despairing.
Excited because with Qin Yue, every offensive and defensive possession was thrilling for Sloan to watch.
Despairing because with Qin Yue, after each possession, Sloan could foresee the future of this Jazz team.
However, that constant struggle with despair was perhaps the truest reflection of Jerry Sloan’s coaching career.
Salt Lake City is small, so small that almost no NBA star wants to play there.
The Jazz’s presence is so low that even if they have a chance to make the playoffs this season, no one cares about their fate.
But Jerry Sloan was undoubtedly a true warrior.
Because no matter how many tis he failed, no matter how much despair awaited him ahead, he would always stand tall in the next mont.
For instance, that night.
For instance, his coaching career full of failures and regrets.
In the second half, with only 4.7 seconds remaining, Chris Paul successfully hit a crucial mid-range shot to put the Jazz ahead.
Yes, it was just a critical mid-range shot.
Because after the tiout, in front of the cheering Kirilenko, Qin Yue made that silent buzzer-beater that stunned the entire arena.
A shot, vertically leaping, maintaining balance, and then, with a soft touch, lofted the ball with a perfect arc into the hoop... a jump shot from the free-throw line buzzer-beater.
The scoreboard showed, 101 to 102.
The Jazz were a breath away from climbing to third in the West.
But that mont never happened.
On the court, watching Qin Yue already surrounded by teammates, Jerry Sloan turned and helped up Chris Paul, who was squatting by the sideline.
"Chris, this won’t be the first ti you experience this in your basketball career, and life is the sa.
But the most interesting part about life and basketball is precisely this.
They can make you unwilling, they can make you suffer, they can keep you tossing and turning...
But as a new day begins, hope will accompany the first ray of sunshine.
We lost tonight, but tomorrow we have another ga."
Hearing this, knowing that the Jazz would continue to host the Nuggets the next night, Paul slowly got up and said to Sloan, "Tomorrow... I definitely won’t lose. No... we definitely won’t lose!"
After this ga, Qin Yue and Paul didn’t choose to et up.
Because the Jazz still had to prepare for their more crucial positioning battle with the Nuggets.
And the Warriors needed to return to Oakland to recuperate and keep moving forward.
...
On March 17th, back at the long-awaited Oracle Arena, the valiant Qin Yue finally changed his career head-to-head record with his ntor to 1 to 3.
This season, almost swept by the Spurs in the regular season, the Warriors have the ability to counter anyone, except for the Phoenix Suns and Spurs...
Those have been insurmountable barriers before this ga.
Privately, Anthony had complained more than once to Qin Yue about the extrely harsh environnt in the West.
"Qin, do you know who our four opponents were in the first week of January? Spurs, Mavericks, Rockets, Phoenix Suns...
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