Chapter 21: Rookie, come and take off your shoes for me

Kenny Smith said: "The Chinese rookie played for five minutes, made 3 of 3 shots, 3 of 1 free throws, grabbed 3 rebounds, including 1 offensive rebound, and the assist just now was his.

He scored a total of 7 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist. His personal statistics were very good and his efficiency was very high. He also helped the team to reverse the situation from a 6-point deficit to a 2-point lead.

The reason the Green Team called a timeout was because they were stopped by him. It was a shame for the Green Team to be stopped by an undrafted rookie making his debut. "

Barkley said disapprovingly: "That's because his opponent is very weak. I said, as long as you don't let him get close to the basket or send him to the free throw line, he will pose no threat.

The Green Team doesn't have a strong inside player, so they are not very effective against this rookie. This rookie's strength is indeed an advantage, and we can use fouls to stop his strong attack under the basket."

When the Knicks players left the court, rookie Williams handed a towel and a cup of water to He Zhongqiu, and said with envy: "He, you performed really well. I wish I could have such an opportunity too."

"Yes, everything in the dream will be there."

After taking the towel and cup of water, He Zhongqiu smiled and encouraged after listening to Xia Song's translation.

Xia Song was stunned. He Zhongqiu, how do you want me to translate this? Forget it, I won't translate this sentence.

He Zhongqiu sat back next to the water dispenser, and Xia Song squatted in front of him and said, "Zhongqiu, you go to the basket too often to force shots. Don't be so rigid. You need to learn how to allocate your energy.

The game has four quarters of 48 minutes. You can't use up all your energy in one quarter. You have to allocate your energy throughout the game, especially the last quarter."

He Zhongqiu nodded and said, "Brother Xia, I know what you mean, it's about combining work and rest. Although I'm not smart enough, I'm not stupid either.

But this is my first time playing, and I want to perform well. I may not have the chance to play later, so I must seize the opportunity when it comes."

Xia Song was startled, then nodded and said, "You're right, I've been thinking too much. You really don't need to think so much right now, you should cherish every second of the present.

Your performance was really good, especially the dunk. Also, you didn't make many mistakes, which was beyond my expectation."

He Zhongqiu chuckled and said, "Don't worry, there will be mistakes, there will be fouls, everything will happen, I never overestimate myself."

"..."

Xia Song was furious, you idiot, can you please speak properly?

Sure enough, after the timeout, Don Cheney did not let He Zhongqiu play again, but replaced him with starting center Harrington.

The green team replaced Vin Baker. Vin Baker, who had lost face at the hands of He Zhongqiu, immediately exploded. Relying on his four or five hundred pounds, he crushed Harrington and made two dunks as soon as he came on the court, one of which was a two plus one.

After that, Harrington didn't dare to get close to Vin Baker, and defensive expert Kurt Thomas was pulled out of the paint area by Eric Williams' mid-range shot and had no way to assist in defending the basket in time.

Then Don Cheney asked Kurt Thomas and Harrington to switch defense and let him defend Vin Baker, but the result did not change. Facing Vin Baker's terrifying tonnage, Thomas was unable to withstand it.

At the end of the second quarter, the score was 52:44. After the timeout, the Green Team scored 20:10 and ended the first half with an 8-point lead.

In seven minutes, Vin Baker made 6 of 5 shots and 4 of 4 free throws, scoring 14 points alone and blasting the Knicks' inside line.

During the halftime break in TNT's live studio, Barkley said: "I have to say that the five minutes that the Chinese rookie was on the court were the best time for the Knicks. The Chinese rookie's win-loss value was +5, the highest among all players on the Knicks team."

Kenny Smith said: "And Harrington has the lowest plus-minus value in the team, -16. I have to say that compared with the rookie, Harrington's ability is not enough. The Knicks lack competitiveness at the five position. The rookie is likely to replace him as the main player."

Barkley said: "As things stand, the rookies should be allowed back into the game in the third quarter, and I think the Green Team is capable of dealing with the rookies, and I think it's still Vin Baker."

Kenny Smith said: "Main center Tony Battie can't play against a rookie, the tonnage and strength are not on the same level.

But Vin Baker needs to be calm and not be irritated by the rookie. Moreover, his health is not guaranteed, which is why he cannot get a starting position in the Green Team. In the strong confrontation with the rookie, he needs to be careful of getting injured. "Barkley nodded and said, "Yes, there is no confrontation with Harrington. Harrington's defense is almost non-existent.

Facing Kurt Thomas, although Thomas's defense was good, he only weighed 104 kilograms and lacked the strength to create a strong confrontation.

But against a rookie, wow, this rookie is not Yao from the Mavericks, nor is he Wang and Bart. I have to admit that I underestimated him before. His confrontation ability is very good. "

……

“If it weren’t for this rookie provoking Wen Baker, Wen Baker wouldn’t target me, damn it!”

In the Knicks locker room, He Zhongqiu just came in and Harrington, who was already sitting down, glanced at him with a look of deep dissatisfaction in his eyes.

He had wanted to attack He Zhongqiu for a long time. He was a little afraid of He Zhongqiu's kung fu before, but now he can't care less.

"Hey, rookie, come over here and help me take off my shoes," he shouted coldly.

He Zhongqiu was startled, looked around, and said in surprise: "Old bird, are you calling me?"

"If not you, then who is it? This is what a rookie should do, don't you know?" Harrington said unhappily.

"You have your own hands, take them off yourself."

Xia Song hurriedly translated, but He Zhongqiu directly refused.

He doesn't recognize any unspoken rules in the locker room. It sounds so refreshing, but isn't it just the old guys bullying the new guys? That's an outdated custom. The instructors prohibited such things when he was in the juvenile detention center, so he doesn't recognize these so-called rules.

He just arrived and has no qualifications or ability. It's okay for him to pretend to be a grandson, but his way of pretending to be a grandson does not mean bullying or beating others. If others want to bully him, he will not agree.

"Take it off yourself? Asshole..."

When Harrington heard this, he got so angry that he shouted at He Zhongqiu, "Rookie, if you don't take off your shoes today, don't even think about staying in this locker room."

"Mid-Autumn Festival, he said..."

Xia Song became anxious and quickly translated it for He Zhongqiu.

These words touched upon things that were buried deep in He Zhongqiu's heart.

After entering the juvenile detention center, he buried his youthful rebelliousness and edge, turned all his resentment into acting like a grandson, and suppressed all his anger deep in his heart.

In the three years since I was released from the juvenile detention center, I have maintained this state in order not to go back to the old ways, but now these have been touched upon.

He felt a little hot and his scalp was itchy, so he scratched his head and said with some regret: "I should have grown some nails, they're not strong enough to tickle the itch!"

Xia Song felt that He Zhongqiu was in danger, and immediately advised: "Zhongqiu, this is indeed the unspoken rule of the locker room, it's just a joke. You just joined the team, so don't offend everyone."

The locker room has its own rules, and everyone followed them. Alan Houston and the madman just watched the show, and no one else cared.

Rookie Williams showed excitement in his eyes. It was finally the turn of this Chinese rookie. This was only fair.

It is also difficult to manage coaches such as Don Cheney and Thibodeau. They cannot interfere in the private affairs of the players in the locker room. Things like the unspoken rules of the locker room are not something they can intervene in.

(End of this chapter)