Unsolvable Mid-Range Shot Experience Card

Wang Yi was relieved this time. When he took the court, the Lakers weren't behind—in fact, they were up by one.

The moment he stepped onto the court, a system notification sounded in his mind:

[You can check in.]

"Check in."

Wang Yi said.

[Check-in successful!]

[Check-in reward: Unsolvable Mid-Range Shot Experience Card (Beginner)]

Wang Yi pondered for a moment. He didn't plan to use the Unsolvable Mid-Range Shot Experience Card right away.

With his current three-point shooting and defense, he was more than capable of being a quality 3D Player.

The best steel should be used where it mattered most.

He would save the card for when the Lakers couldn't get anything going. That way, it would have the greatest effect.

At that moment, James came off the court for the Lakers, and Beal, the Wizards' star player, went to rest as well.

Westbrook and Hachimura Rui were still on the court.

As Wang Yi passed him, Hachimura Rui said something in Japanese.

Wang Yi naturally couldn't understand him, so he replied in Chinese:

"Can you speak like a normal person?"

Hachimura Rui couldn't understand him either. He stared into Wang Yi's eyes and said viciously in English:

"Get ready to be swept away by the storm!"

Wang Yi heard him, shook his head slightly, and gave a quiet laugh.

The kid had watched too much hot-blooded anime.

The Lakers had possession.

Caruso dribbled past half court.

Wang Yi kept moving around screens.

He found an opening and received the ball at the top of the arc.

Without the slightest hesitation, he shot a three.

Clang!

His first shot missed.

At the other end, Hachimura Rui took a pass from Westbrook and dunked.

After landing, he threw his head back and roared, "Aah—"

The veins in his neck stood out.

On the next possession,

Wang Yi moved around a screen and found another opening.

He shot another three.

Clang!

Another missed three.

Wang Yi shook out his hand.

Looks like his shot was ice-cold tonight.

Even with a three-point percentage of 45%,

there were still times when his shot just wasn't falling.

It was like Curry. He had a three-point percentage in the forties.

Plenty of times, he could shoot the lights out.

But sometimes he'd go two-for-fifteen or three-for-fifteen, and the lights would get shot out of him instead.

Wang Yi had studied shooters like Curry for a long time.

He knew that when a shooter's shot was cold, the most important thing was to keep shooting without hesitation.

Even if he missed his first hundred shots, as long as he got an opening, he had to take the 101st with the same conviction.

If a shooter hesitated, he'd already lost.

At the other end, the Wizards went on offense.

Hachimura Rui posted up against Wang Yi.

Taking advantage of his height, he made a hook shot and scored with ease.

After turning around, Hachimura Rui raised both arms in front of Wang Yi and flexed his muscles.

The DJ drew out the call, shouting loudly:

"Two points, courtesy of Hachimura Rui—"

Wang Yi saw this and sneered inwardly.

His own shot wasn't falling, and his opponent was acting so cocky.

Normally, he might have tried another way to avoid facing his opponent directly.

But when it came to Hachimura Rui, he wasn't going to back down.

He'd go head-to-head!

The first quarter ended with Wang Yi ice-cold from the field, missing all three of his shots.

After James came off the court, the team was without its offensive playmaker.

As a result, the Lakers' offense struggled.

On the other side, Hachimura Rui was in fine form.

He'd made all four of his shots and scored eight points in the first quarter alone.

The Lakers were already down by five.

The comments in the Tencent NBA Live Broadcast Room were full of insults.

"Trash Lakers!"

"Trash Wang Yi!"

"Keep talking big! You got taught a lesson. What a disgrace!"

"Getting taught a lesson is bad enough, but getting taught one by a Japanese guy? What a disgrace!"

"Wang Yi, go die!"

The commentator, Duan Ran, said:

"Oh, Wang Yi's shot isn't falling today. Let's see if he can find another way to help the team. Mr. Zhu, three-pointers were your specialty. What do you think Wang Yi should do to break this deadlock?"

Zhu Fangyu, seated beside him, replied:

"Every shooter has times when their shot isn't falling. The important thing is to stay focused and not force your shots. But if you get a good opportunity, you can't hesitate either—you have to take it decisively. When your threes aren't going in, you can also help the team in other ways, like playing defense, passing, and rebounding."

During the break between quarters, the Lakers' head coach, Vogel, looked at Wang Yi and asked:

"How are you?"

Wang Yi nodded. "I'm fine."

Vogel saw the confidence in Wang Yi's eyes as he answered.

He felt reassured.

What he'd been most worried about was Wang Yi losing confidence after missing a few threes.

Now it seemed his concern had been unnecessary.

He said to Wang Yi:

"You'll start the second quarter. Keep playing the way you usually do. If you get a chance to shoot a three, take it decisively. At the same time, step up your defense."

This arrangement showed that the coach had accepted Wang Yi as part of the rotation.

A player who'd spent years unable to get on the court would surely have been delighted to agree.

But Wang Yi unexpectedly shook his head.

"Coach, please let me match Hachimura Rui's minutes."

Vogel glanced toward Hachimura Rui on the other side of the court.

He tried to dissuade him. "Wang, what he said at the press conference was out of line. But we have to put the game first. Besides, he's a Power Forward and you're a guard. Even if you're on the court at the same time, you won't be matched up against each other."

But Wang Yi said solemnly:

"Coach, trust me. You'll get results. If I can't blow him out, you can take me off the court whenever you want."

Vogel mulled it over for a moment.

Hachimura Rui's role on the Wizards had been growing increasingly important.

If he got going, they'd have no choice but to tighten their defense on him.

That would make it much easier for Westbrook and Beal to drive to the basket.

So the priority was to shut him down.

Since Wang Yi was so determined, maybe he had a plan.

Vogel had always been an open-minded coach.

During the Lakers' 2020 championship season, Rondo would often take the tactics board and draw up plays for the players.

So this time, Vogel decided to let Wang Yi try it out.

And so, in the second quarter, Wang Yi stayed off the court until Hachimura Rui came on.

When the second quarter reached the four-minute mark, Hachimura Rui entered the game.

Wang Yi also took the court again.

The Lakers were still down by five.

Wang Yi moved around a screen and found himself open.

He took another three without hesitation.

Swish!

His first made three of the game.

The threes were finally falling!

Hachimura Rui's gaze darkened slightly.

Vogel clenched a fist, barely able to contain himself.

The Lakers needed their threes to start falling.

James wasn't young enough to fly through the air and dominate every play anymore.

He couldn't shoulder the load like he used to, charging into the paint with every possession when the team was struggling.

So the Lakers' three-point shooting was the team's barometer.

As Wang Yi got back on defense, he thumped his chest.

Now that his three was falling, things would be easier.

Just a moment ago, he'd been thinking that if his next three didn't go in, he'd use the Unsolvable Mid-Range Shot Experience Card.