Y13 [EN]: Chapter 212

Y13-212 Regular Season 2011-2012

With 17 seconds left and the score tied at 70-70, this timeout was a critical moment for both the Dallas Mavericks and the Lakers.

[It looks like this will be the last offensive play. The Dallas Mavericks… Wouldn’t you say the Dallas Mavericks are in a slightly more advantageous position?]

Shaquille O’Neal nodded in response to Mike Breen’s comment.

[Dallas has plenty of players who are strong in the clutch. Dirk Nowitzki, whom NBA coaches ranked second only to Kobe Bryant as the most reliable clutch player; Jason ‘JET’ Terry, the demon of the fourth quarter; and Y13 prodigy Youngjae Yoon, the team’s best sharpshooter. It’s rare to see a team with three options they can trust in clutch situations! That’s why Dallas is notorious as the ultimate jump shot team! The Lakers’ bench must be feeling the pressure!]

Charles Barkley also agreed, adding to Shaquille O’Neal’s point.

[Dirk Nowitzki, living up to his ‘fraud’ nickname (a playful jab at his perceived inconsistency), cleaned up nicely in the fourth quarter with 8/17 shooting. Jason Terry, the demon, has been Dallas’ one-two punch with Nowitzki for years, hitting crucial shots multiple times. Youngjae Yoon hasn’t really showcased his sharpshooting skills today, with 3/11 shooting, but considering his shooting percentage this season and his buzzer-beater against Phoenix, he’s still a dangerous shooter. Tyson Chandler, with his excellent execution, will set screens in the right places. And then there’s Jason Kidd, who will orchestrate everything. Honestly, I can’t help but feel that Dallas has a slight edge!]

Coach Carlisle, judging that going to overtime would be disadvantageous, needed to make this attack successful. He began to assess the situation more sharply than usual and instructed the players to create the best possible scenario.

“Chandler, your role is to keep Nowitzki’s defender as far away as possible. Your role is the most important. If your screen gives Nowitzki even a single second of space, the probability of that shot going in will increase.”

A screen play that he could never trust and instruct unless it was Tyson Chandler, who not only doesn’t shy away from rough physical play and hustle, but also perfectly grasps the position, direction, and timing of the screen. Coach Carlisle had faith that Tyson Chandler would be able to carry out this mission sufficiently, so he gave the instruction, and Chandler nodded, swallowing hard.

“Terry and Yoon, your primary goal is to move in an S-shape momentarily, moving towards the side. Yoon, you need to position yourself at the top of the key. I want Kobe Bryant and Metta World Peace to feel threatened by you and stick to you, focusing all their attention on off-ball movement. The goal is to prevent a double team on Nowitzki, but remember that depending on how threatening your movements are, the chance may come to you.”

He didn’t say much to Nowitzki. His role was simply to shoot, and to perfectly make that shot. In a way, this one play was like the four supporting actors sacrificing themselves for the lead, Dirk Nowitzki.

“Kidd, I’ll leave it up to you to decide who takes the final shot.”

However, Coach Carlisle entrusted the development of the offense to Jason Kidd, another protagonist, who could be seen as the true protagonist and the ultimate hero.

“I’m just setting things up. It would be presumptuous to assume that the situation will unfold as I instruct at the last moment.”

Kidd didn’t respond to Coach Carlisle’s words, but instead nodded slightly. It was a nod more trustworthy than any words.

“The tactic itself is set up for Nowitzki, but the opposing coach or players might abandon Yoon and Terry and swarm towards Nowitzki. You’re the only one who can flexibly assess the situation and make a decision based on that.”

Beeeep-

With Coach Carlisle’s final instructions, the players returned to the court. The Lakers seemed to be well-prepared, intently sticking to their assignments with determined expressions, constantly looking for opportunities to intercept passes.

[The Dallas Mavericks are coming out with Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Youngjae Yoon, Dirk Nowitzki, and Tyson Chandler. It seems they’re going with a lineup for offense, with three guards instead of Marion. One concern is, considering Kidd and Yoon’s shooting touch in today’s game, wouldn’t other players be better?]

Despite Mike Breen’s concerns, Charles Barkley shook his head firmly and began to share his thoughts.

[In these clutch situations, especially when you only have one attack to execute, you have to trust your best players. Even if a player is a good shooter, the pressure of a last shot can be overwhelming. It varies from team to team, but most of the players who are starters have the ability to be there, and participating in these important moments is a matter of pride for the starters. In my opinion, I think Dirk Nowitzki will take responsibility. Jason Terry or Youngjae Yoon might shoot, but considering their condition in the second half, Nowitzki is the answer. When you talk about the man of the fourth quarter, you can’t help but think of Dirk Nowitzki.]

The Dallas Mavericks start their attack from the sideline. Tyson Chandler tried to pass, but Andrew Bynum, waving his arms and jumping in front of him, made it difficult to make a proper pass.

Whoosh-

Fortunately, Youngjae feigned a move inside the top of the key, then ran out to Chandler’s front to receive the ball. Youngjae immediately and safely distributed the ball to Kidd, then began to carry out his role. Kidd knew that shooting too quickly would give the Lakers another chance, so he held onto the ball until the last possible moment, checking the players’ movements.

‘…’

Terry and Youngjae were constantly moving in and out on the left and right, ready to break out to the sidelines at any moment. Chandler was also battling Bynum, pretending to aim for the basket, but his eyes were fixed on Nowitzki, who was staying in the high post. Nowitzki was fiercely battling Gasol to receive the ball in his desired position.

Finally, the time entered the 5-second mark. The Dallas players began to move in unison according to their roles.

[5 seconds left!]

[Jason Terry and Youngjae Yoon are moving out! At the same time, Tyson Chandler runs out in front of Dirk Nowitzki, who was on the left wing 3-point line, to set a screen!]

But the problem was the Lakers’ response. As if reading Tyson Chandler’s screen, Chandler screened Pau Gasol, who was blocking Nowitzki’s path, but Andrew Bynum, who ran out with him, charged fiercely at Nowitzki, who was trying to slip around, as if he had come to block Nowitzki from the start.

[Andrew Bynum is charging at Nowitzki! There’s no one in the paint!]

[Indeed, it was a one-play aimed at Nowitzki! But any coach leading the Dallas Mavericks would have no choice but to use the Dirk Nowitzki card in this situation! Now, Jason Kidd! Does he choose Dirk Nowitzki?!]

Kidd couldn’t help but anxiously bite his lower lip. He could have dribbled in a little because Derek Fisher was blocking him in front, but if there was no opening after that, he would have to shoot himself, or Nowitzki would have to shoot with Andrew Bynum, a 7-foot center, in front of him. Taking that gamble would mean going to overtime in the worst condition.

“?!”

Terry was tightly guarded by Kobe. No matter how much Terry had the nickname ‘Demon of the Fourth Quarter’, Kobe Bryant, who had won nine Defensive First Team awards, was a formidable opponent. However, Youngjae, who was constantly moving in and out on the right, caught Kidd’s eye. Cleverly, Youngjae was moving around Nowitzki’s vicinity, forcing World Peace to pay attention to Nowitzki, even if it was against his will.

[Now it’s 2 seconds! Something has to be done!!]

At that moment, as if to aid Youngjae’s movement, Nowitzki cut from the wing to the high post on a route where World Peace could barely make a help defense, and then set a screen. World Peace unknowingly paid attention to Youngjae and Nowitzki at the same time and was caught on Nowitzki’s unexpected screen. If it had been during his Defensive Player of the Year days, he could have reacted sufficiently, but World Peace’s already slowed body couldn’t move in time.

Whoosh-

And the ball left Kidd’s hand. The remaining time was now only about 1 second. The quickly shot ball went over Nowitzki’s screen and was sucked into Youngjae’s hand, who had moved from the wing to the top.

[It’s Nowitzki’s screen!!!]

[Who would have thought?! Nowitzki’s screen! We thought he would aim for Nowitzki, but Nowitzki completely fooled the Lakers with his screen! With Pau Gasol already on Tyson Chandler and Andrew Bynum on Nowitzki, World Peace is caught on Nowitzki’s screen!!]

However, the pass went slightly off due to Derek Fisher’s steal attempt, and Youngjae ended up receiving the ball not right at the 3-point line, but about two steps behind it. The time he saw while receiving the ball was 0.8 seconds. Youngjae’s location was a long-range 3-point spot, two steps behind the farthest top 3-point line. There was no more time to hesitate. World Peace was also quickly shaking off Nowitzki’s screen and running towards him, befitting his defensive skills, so he had to shoot here.

‘Here goes.’

Casually. Youngjae always tried to shoot as comfortably as possible, thinking of it as practice, so there was no impatience. Of course, the pressure of knowing that if he didn’t make this shot, they would have to go to overtime, and looking further ahead, they might lose in overtime if he didn’t make this shot, was beyond imagination. Nevertheless, he had to shoot. A player who hesitates in these situations doesn’t deserve to be the ace of a team.

At the same age as himself, Kobe Bryant stepped up while the star seniors on his team hesitated and feared. He failed and received a lot of criticism. But those became the foundation for the current best clutch shooter in the league, Kobe Bryant.

With one dribble, he powerfully plants his left foot to stop momentarily, then twists his upper body to face the rim directly. And he naturally places his right foot on the court for the final step to shoot. World Peace’s approach was no longer a concern for Youngjae. Even if Usain Bolt was running and jumped to block his shot, all he could do was reach out his hand from two steps away, where Youngjae was standing far from the rim.

He puts all his strength into his toes, kicks off the ground as much as possible, and naturally bends and straightens his knees to jump. Then, he lifts the ball above his head, lightly supports the bottom of the ball with his right hand, and uses his left hand to assist so that the direction doesn’t go astray when shooting.

Beeeep-

In a split second, the ball left Youngjae’s hand, and as the ball arrived above the rim, the buzzer sounded louder than usual. And the time board showed 00.00.

============================ Author’s Notes ============================

★Thank you to those who gave advance reservations, recommendations, comments, and coupons!!

★Thank you for the sponsorship coupon, JaeByeol-nim!!

Ultra10-nim///It’s the same date as the game in the novel. In reality, the Lakers won with a lucky shot.

EngkanaShon-nim///The amount is the same as before. I’m sure of it. It’s always been around 14~15. But I’m a little worried that it’s a bit loose. It’s a matter of course that a novel should not only be complete but also satisfy the readers. In general, sports novels tend to get looser as they go into the mid-to-late stages. The game scenes are bound to become similar. I’m trying to figure out how to avoid that loose feeling, but it’s difficult because it’s my first work. I’m trying to describe various methods, scenes, and players as much as possible. Please let me know what parts are loose and what parts are less satisfactory, either in the comments or in a 쪽지 [ 쪽지 is a private message feature on Korean websites], and I’ll rack my brains.

H0h-nim, Makerere-nim///It’s a cancer-inducing game, and the cut is here…

Cup-in-Cup-nim///Ron Artest, before he changed his name to World Peace, was a good defender. He had the defensive ability of today’s Tony Allen and decent offensive ability. When he transferred to the LA Lakers, people said he was getting too strong…

Painenシア-nim, GoddessYuriPraise-nim, Lee DongseokDong-nim, misscherry-nim, DisappearingSoul-nim-, DarkANGEL-nim///Thank you for your comments as always!! Have a great Sunday tomorrow^^

goimosp-nim/// You might throw the remote in the next episode ㄷㄷ [ㄷㄷ is an emoticon expressing fear or anticipation]