Chapter 4: A Unique Playing Style
Whenever the game was going smoothly, Li You’s playing time would be affected.
After entering the NCAA Championship, there were many scouts present at every game.
Of course, these people were not there to watch Li You; Ray Allen was their target.
Travis Knight, the tall white player from the University of Connecticut, also received a lot of attention. Although he was a bit thin, players with a height of 2.13 meters were rare.
In the United States, guards are the most competitive position; there are a ton of small Black guards around 1.9 meters tall every year.
Li You officially entered the game after 8 minutes and 56 seconds in the first half. At this point, the team was already leading by 18 points, and his job was to maintain the lead.
The 76ers’ scout at the American Airlines Arena also attracted a lot of media attention. The 76ers were almost guaranteed the first overall pick in this year’s draft.
Since the Grizzlies, who were last, and the Toronto Raptors, who were third to last, had only recently joined the league, neither team could get the first overall pick before 1999, which gave the 76ers, who were second to last, a huge advantage.
It wasn't May 19th yet, but many media reporters knew that this year's first overall pick would definitely belong to the 76ers!
The probability of drawing the first overall pick was as high as 33.7%. If they still couldn't get it, the new 76ers President, Pat Cross, would probably punch David Stern.
Different scouts had different reactions to Li You's performance.
At the top of the arc, Li You, holding the ball with his left hand, slightly lowered his center of gravity, performed a small In and Out dribble with his left hand, and then suddenly executed a quick behind-the-back dribble.
After shaking off his defender by half a step, Li You switched to his right hand, leaned on the defender, and drove straight to the paint.
Some scouts, seeing Li You's performance, secretly shook their heads and casually wrote in their notebooks:
“Fine technique, lacks explosiveness, difficult to shake off Defense with the first step.”
Of course, some patient scouts noticed that Li You did not stop dribbling during his drive. He circled the paint and made a subtle assist to a cutting teammate, who easily scored 2 points.
“Excellent passing vision, always aware of teammates’ positions, excellent tactical discipline.”
Seeing Li You make an extremely risky bounce pass in transition, the basketball piercing through the opponent’s Defense, assisting a fast-breaking teammate for another 2 points, some scouts shook their heads again:
“Risky pass, lacks control over the game.”
However, in the eyes of other scouts, such a pass was praised:
“Creative passing, bold and meticulous, excellent fundamentals.”
“...”
The polarized evaluations also represented different basketball philosophies.
However, in an era that favored half-court offense, pounding the paint, and off-ball screens to create shooting opportunities for shooters, both sides sometimes had common evaluations.
This time, with 7 seconds left on the University of Connecticut’s shot clock, Li You, after a pick-and-roll at the top of the arc, suddenly accelerated with the ball in his left hand.
Colgate’s starting center, Adonal Foyle, switched to delay.
Facing a mismatch against a player nearly 2.10 meters tall, Li You, who had just dribbled past the three-point line, again performed a behind-the-back dribble. Taking advantage of his opponent’s defensive slide, he smoothly completed a half-spin fake.
Pausing slightly at the three-point line, Li You suddenly lowered his center of gravity, lunged forward, and faked a drive with the ball in his right hand.
Adonal Foyle stumbled backward, saw Li You pull back with a crossover step to the three-point line, gather the ball, and shoot. He tried to block but his body couldn't keep up with his mind, and he eventually lost his balance, landing on the floor.
“Oh!!”
The basketball swished through the net, and the crowd in the RCA Dome American Airlines Arena cheered excitedly.
Li You smiled and raised both hands, gesturing for the cheers to grow louder.
Fans loved such flashy scores, but for scouts of this era, they all instinctively gave the same evaluation:
“A terrible shot selection when there’s a mismatch advantage in the paint!”
“...”
At the end of the first half, the score was 45:26, with the University of Connecticut largely securing the win.
Coach Calhoun had never restricted Li You’s offense.
When he discovered Li You in New Mexico, what he valued was precisely this unique playing style.
Just as his requirement for Ray Allen was to not just shoot three-pointers and not become a pure shooter, Coach Calhoun also did not want Li You to become a traditional point guard like Stockton.
During halftime, in the University of Connecticut locker room, everyone was waiting for the Head Coach’s address.
“Well done, don’t be careless in the second half. You are all junior players, and I don’t want to see a miracle happen to us!”
Coach Calhoun instructed the starting lineup, and Ray Allen immediately guaranteed:
“We won’t relax until we win the game!”
By the Championship, the coaching staff also began to shorten their rotations. In a winner-take-all game, they usually stuck with the starters.
Li You played 9 minutes and 46 seconds in the first half, shooting 2-of-4 from the field, 1-of-2 from beyond the arc, and 2-of-2 from the free throw line, finishing with 7 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal.
Compared to the previous qualification rounds, his playing time would decrease as long as the starting lineup performed normally.
Li You did not complain about this situation. That’s just how the basketball environment was. Coach Calhoun had treated him well, and he owed his basketball scholarship to this kind old man.
In the second half, Colgate University was unable to turn the game around.
Adonal Foyle finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds, 6 blocks, and 3 turnovers, barely saving some face for Colgate University.
Ray Allen, meanwhile, scored a game-high 24 points, along with 3 rebounds and 1 assist.
Li You played less than 8 minutes in the second half, with his stats settling at 12 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 turnover.
74:59, the University of Connecticut successfully advanced to the second round.
The fans left the American Airlines Arena satisfied, seeing the star players perform well; the ticket was worth it tonight!
On the morning of March 15th, after the team’s practice, Ray Allen and Li You, dressed in athletic wear, arrived at the coffee shop near the training American Airlines Arena as agreed.
Mark Bartelstein waved to the two of them. After they sat down, he casually ordered three coffees, then eagerly said:
“Ray, the Boston Celtics have shown their interest, which is definitely good news for you!”
Having been in the basketball circle for many years, Mark Bartelstein had finally caught a big fish this year.
As an agent, signing a talented player like Ray Allen, if managed properly, was a living cash cow!
Ray Allen was not surprised to hear the news. When he was a sophomore, many NBA teams had already thrown money at him.
If it weren't for the championship, he could have entered the draft last year.
Seeing Ray Allen not smiling, Mark Bartelstein turned his head helplessly and said to Li You:
“Li, maybe you should play another year. I know you are very talented, but those idiots don’t understand you. The combine trials are useless!”
“That kind of trial can’t showcase your characteristics at all. If you can get an invitation for a private team workout, I believe you will definitely be selected in the first round.”
Hearing such advice, Li You asked back with a teasing smile:
“Mark, if I play another year, what if we lose in the first round next year?”
“The NCAA is always full of surprises. Who can guarantee the team’s performance?”
Mark Bartelstein looked into Li You’s eyes and chose not to make empty promises.
Finally, the balding white agent said seriously:
“Even if you go undrafted, I will get you into the NBA. Opportunity favors the prepared, and we must all be ready for it.”
Thanks to the support of my readers, it has been approved~