Y13 [EN]: Chapter 254

Y13-254 2011-2012 Regular Season

Youngjae and Rose were locked in a fierce battle. Dallas held a slight advantage, but the Chicago Bulls, fueled by the home-court advantage and Coach Thibodeau’s shrewd rotations, managed to keep the game close.

[Deng and Noah are both prepared to play over 40 minutes tonight. Deng typically averages 40 minutes a game, but Noah will be logging almost 10 minutes more than usual. I wonder if he’s pushing himself too hard?]

[Even against a highly conditioned Noah and Deng, Coach Carlisle is sticking to his game plan! Brandon Haywood and Chandler Parsons are giving it their all, but it’s a tough assignment.]

Brandon Haywood struggled against Joakim Noah. Haywood, a bulky center, was effective against traditional power centers, but his mobility was waning. He was a poor matchup against the younger, more agile, and intelligent Noah.

[Another incredible kick-out pass from Joakim Noah! Brandon Haywood poses no real threat! The ball finds Luol Deng again!]

[Chandler Parsons is working hard on defense, but Luol Deng’s strength is pushing him back!]

Chandler Parsons put up a respectable performance against All-Star small forward Luol Deng. Parsons, taller than Shawn Marion, compensated for his slower lateral movement and shorter arms with sheer hustle. However, Luol Deng was a versatile player, comfortable at both the 3 (small forward) and 4 (power forward) positions, boasting superior size at 6’9″, tremendous energy, and well-rounded skills. He had improved significantly this season, earning him an All-Star selection.

Thump!

“Ugh!”

Deng posted up, subtly using his buttocks to shake Parsons’ upper body while backing him down. Parsons groaned, struggling to maintain his balance, as Deng continued to push.

[Chandler Parsons is being pushed back! He can’t effectively counter Deng’s post-up moves!]

[He’s earned a spot in Dallas’s rotation thanks to his basketball IQ as a rookie, but he’s not strong enough to stop an All-Star’s post-up game. He’s a defender who relies on activity and effort, not brute strength.]

Parsons, showing the grit of a true rookie, refused to give up and gritted his teeth. Deng was already preparing to shoot a fadeaway jumper, and Parsons belatedly rushed forward, leaping to contest the shot.

Deng’s jumper bounced on the rim, teasing the players before dropping through the net.

[BUCKET!]

[1.5 seconds left in the 3rd quarter! Chandler Parsons must be regretting that! If he had held on for just 1.5 seconds longer, he could have ended the 3rd quarter with a stop!]

[Still, Chandler Parsons deserves credit for his effort. His relentless activity is among the best in the league, and he continues to provide valuable minutes backing up Shawn Marion with his tenacious play!]

Beeeee-

[The 3rd quarter ends. 73 to 75! The Dallas Mavericks narrowly maintain a 2-point lead as the quarter concludes!]

Assistant Coach Terry Stotts lightly high-fived the players, quickly pointing out offensive and defensive shortcomings as if time were of the essence. Coach Carlisle listened intently and spoke after Stotts finished.

“We are definitely playing a good game.”

The players were tired, but their expressions were bright. Their performance was solid, and the game was unfolding according to their plan. Even if the score difference wasn’t significant, they were preventing a Bulls comeback.

“Before this game, I told you all something. I said that if we could keep it close until the 3rd quarter, we could win. I sincerely thank you for doing just that. Now, our time has come. The 4th quarter is our promised 4th quarter. We have a clear advantage in stamina compared to our opponents. In the end, the 4th quarter is a battle of endurance and focus.”

Coach Carlisle continued without pausing.

“Nowitzki, you will rest until the 3-minute mark of the 4th quarter. After that, pour everything into the remaining 9 minutes and dominate. Terry, you’ll play the entire 4th quarter. Focus on scoring as a shooting guard. Reduce contested shots and concentrate on open looks. Yoon, you and Terry will manage the backcourt, balancing scoring and playmaking. With Wright and Chandler on the court simultaneously, the court will be crowded, so utilize their screening abilities to create opportunities for jumpers.”

Coach Carlisle concluded his final instructions and clapped his hands forcefully.

“We have to win 50 games and make the playoffs, right?!”

“Yes, sir!”

[The Youngjae Yoon TO Brandon Wright combination is effective as always!]

[Wasn’t that pick-and-roll just fantastic? He is one of the most skilled screen users among guards this season!]

[This season, Yoon’s PPP (points scored per possession) in pick-and-roll situations is 1.049. That’s second only to Chris Paul’s 1.072. It means he’s performing at a level comparable to Paul as a ball-handler, not just a shooter.]

Wright and Youngjae’s efficiency together was undeniable. However, when Wright shared the court with Chandler or Haywood, spacing became a problem, leading him to primarily play with the third center, Mahinmi. Consequently, he didn’t play much with Youngjae, and playing with Chandler, as they were today, was a rare occurrence.

[Coach Tom Thibodeau stated in an interview that he would limit Rose’s playing time to under 30 minutes in today’s game, but it’s questionable whether that will hold! Rose, who has already played 25 minutes, heads to the bench. When C.J. Watson enters briefly, he struggles to contain Yoon and Barea’s speed!]

[It’s frustrating for Chicago, who needs to close the gap! Noah and Deng have already played 30 and 33 minutes, respectively, with 10 minutes still remaining in the 4th quarter! That’s practically a full game’s worth of minutes! In addition, Boozer, who was on fire in the first half, is struggling as Dallas is willing to sacrifice some offense to put Wright on him. Thibodeau attempted to spark a change with Taj Gibson, but it didn’t work! Ultimately, it falls on Rose to make something happen. Thibodeau is trying everything, but in the end, it’s up to the players to execute.]

[Coach Thibodeau received the Coach of the Year award last year and is in a tight race with Popovich (San Antonio) and Coach Carlisle this season. He’s not one to be outmaneuvered strategically. Chicago faced injuries and conditioning challenges this season, but he led them to the cusp of 50 wins. All three coaches lead teams vying for the top spot in the league.]

Clang!

[Another missed shot! Taj Gibson is not the answer tonight! He’s played about 15 minutes and grabbed 6 rebounds, but that’s all. His shooting is abysmal at 1 for 5!]

Gibson received a perfect pass from Noah but struggled against Wright’s energetic defense. Frustrated with his poor shooting, Gibson knew that getting angry wouldn’t help.

The shot, disrupted by Wright’s defense, was rebounded by Chandler, who safely passed the ball to Terry.

“…”

Terry and Youngjae’s relationship was complex. But Terry valued the Dallas organization and wanted to win a championship. Unless the team was faltering, he wasn’t the type to create problems for personal stats while pursuing a championship. Youngjae understood this and was cooperating with Terry to some extent.

And no player was better suited to be the sixth man on the current Dallas team than Terry. Unlike most Sixth Man of the Year winners, who are ball-dominant and thrive in isolation plays, Terry excelled at off-ball movement and provided secondary playmaking.

[Youngjae Yoon is positioned at the top of the key again.]

Youngjae, debating whether to wait for a screen, decided to drive forward without hesitation, sensing he had some space from Watson.

[Youngjae Yoon! He drives straight to the basket without a screen! C.J. Watson is caught off guard and tries to recover, but it looks impossible!]

Watson retreated, helpless, as Youngjae blew past him. Gibson, protecting the rim, quickly attempted to help, but Youngjae shook his upper body left and right in front of Gibson.

[Youngjae Yoon, a subtle left-foot step! And then he extends his right foot with incredible speed!]

A concise but devastating Euro step [a basketball move where a player takes two steps in different directions to evade a defender]. Youngjae leaped between Gibson and Deng, who were trying to block him from both sides.

Whoosh!

“!!”

Just as he was about to make an easy layup, Deng attempted a huge block from behind. Youngjae quickly lowered his right hand, which was about to release the layup, and improvised by scooping the ball upwards from below like a spoon.

Youngjae, glancing back in that brief moment, solidified his decision after seeing Brandon Wright charging towards the basket like a freight train.

Thud!

The ball, hitting the backboard, bounced high towards the top of the key without touching the rim, and Brandon Wright, leaping at that moment, caught the ball with both hands.

Slamming the ball into the rim with a thunderous two-handed dunk, swinging his arms powerfully from behind his head forward.

[HELICOPTER!!!!!]

[That’s the majesty of a helicopter dunk! Youngjae Yoon TO Brandon Wright! It’s simply amazing! Tyson Chandler has 2 alley-oops, and Brandon Wright has 2 alley-oops, for a total of 4 alley-oop slams today, 3 of which came from passes from Youngjae Yoon! Truly incredible! Youngjae Yoon!]

[This is the largest point difference in today’s game! The score is 79 to 86! The Dallas Mavericks are pulling away by 7 points!]

Coach Thibodeau, desperate to turn the game around, re-inserted Derrick Rose, despite his limited playing time, and tried to spark a comeback through the smart passes and dribbling of Hamilton, Korver, Deng, and Noah, focusing on outside shots from the 2 (shooting guard) and 3 (small forward) positions. However, because he underutilized Korver, Korver’s shooting touch cooled off, and Rose struggled to play effectively due to lingering effects from minor injuries. Furthermore, Noah and Deng were playing close to 40 minutes in a back-to-back game, hindering their performance.

In comparison, Dallas, with Youngjae playing the most minutes at just 33 and the other starters playing between 25 and 32 minutes, maintained consistent performance in the 4th quarter and continued to widen the score gap.

[Derrick Rose! He’s desperately trying to carry the Chicago Bulls! But Youngjae Yoon in front of him is too strong! It’s a scene that highlights the completely reversed positions of the two players compared to last season!]

“Kuh!”

Rose didn’t show any fear despite his aching ankles and knees. He attacked Youngjae with reckless steps and dribbling, as if his ankles would break and his knees would give way, but Youngjae, while seemingly understated, was concise and clean in his movements. Above all, he effectively contained Rose with his exceptional vision, reaction speed, anticipation, and team-oriented defense.

[Is this your last stand! Derrick Rose, stubbornly digging in! He finally elevates from the low post!]

Rose mustered his last ounce of strength to attempt a layup, but he despaired as Youngjae jumped with him. He attempted a final double-clutch, but Youngjae positioned his right hand between Rose’s hands and swatted the ball away.

[OH MY GOODNESS!!!]

[Youngjae Yoon’s play, not only contesting the shot in the air but also tracking the ball’s movement to the end, recognizing the double-clutch attempt, and blocking it, is truly shocking! It’s amazing that he’s keeping pace with all of Derrick Rose’s incredible moves!]

With even Rose shut down, Chicago couldn’t find a solution to overcome the situation, and the game ended somewhat decisively.

Beeeee!!!

[The game is over. The final game of the season between the Chicago Bulls and the Dallas Mavericks! In the end, the Dallas Mavericks win the game 88 to 97!]

[Dallas has finally secured 50 wins, while Chicago has failed to reach that milestone. Coach Thibodeau may feel that the schedule was unfavorable. Their opponent had 4 days of rest, while they were playing on the second night of a back-to-back.]

[But that rest was earned by winning 49 games during the previous tough stretch of the schedule. Besides, it was a home game, so it’s hard to solely blame the schedule.]

[With this win, Dallas has secured the top seed in the West outright and has also secured home-court advantage should they face Chicago in the Finals. But that advantage is meaningless if Miami reaches the Finals.]

============================ Author’s Afterword ============================

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prension/// We are also sad. We wonder if there are not enough elements to write comments on our writing, or if the sport of basketball is not popular enough.

Financia, 사라질영혼, -DarkANGEL-, 이동석동, ㅎ0ㅎ, 오마리온///Thank you for your comments!!

비켜봐/// Ah, you’re talking about the scene where Bogut passed to Curry in the 3rd quarter yesterday and backpedaled ㅋㅋ. It’s because he trusts him… and it went in, so we watch it with a smile. Strictly speaking, Bogut neglected his duty. It was hilarious for us to watch ㅋㅋ

울트라10/// I don’t think Philadelphia’s problem is the coach. As Popovich said, no coach wants to go to Philadelphia right now. Agents and veteran players are laughing at it. Optimistic Brett Brown is enduring and running the team even though GM Sam Hinkie is acting like that. He’s a GM who sells players without consulting the coach. Coach Brown is also from Popovich’s camp. Philadelphia’s problem is not the coach, but the GM.

And Rose… if history is any indication, he’ll be injured soon. And with Rose’s injury, Chicago will remain a contender team with limitations.